Mary K. Anderson

SIOUX CITY -- Mary K. Anderson, 79, of Sioux City passed away Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010, at a local hospital following a brief illness.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, with the Rev. Merlin Schrad officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel.

Mary K. was born March 31, 1931, in Fairmont, Minn., the daughter of Dean A. and Helen G. Anderson. As a young child, she moved to Sioux City with her family and attended Sioux City schools. In 1953, she graduated from Mankato State University in Mankato, Minn. She received her master's degree in physical education in 1967, from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.

Her employment in physical education began in 1953 at Watertown (Minn.) High School. In 1955, she was at Slayton (Minn.) High School. She returned to Sioux City in 1959 and taught elementary physical education for the Sioux City Community School District for 37 years. In 1980, she became the girls golf coach at North High School.

Mary K. served in many boards, committees and served as chairperson for a number of them. Her professional involvement included, the American Alliance of Health Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), the National Education Association, the Iowa State Education Association, Siouxland Easter Seals Society, Sioux City Country Club's golf committee and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union's golf committee.

She was active in promoting awareness of physical education through school demonstrations, PTA programs and the media. She was instrumental in the special declaration of Physical Education Week in our school system.

Her hobbies included playing golf, tennis and knitting. She was a long standing member of the Sioux City Country Club and Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.

She is survived by a nephew and his wife, Bob and Jennifer Anderson and their children, Trevor, Jaclyn and Jacob, all of Des Moines; and many faithful friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and a brother, Dean Anderson Jr.

Memorials may be made in her name to Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.