Lorraine Adele Anderson,
73, of Grand Marais, died Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2009 at Cook County North Shore Hospital following a gallant battle against cancer.
Lorraine was born February 9, 1936 in Minneapolis, MN to Adele and Loren Cahlander.
She married Warren Anderson July 9, 1955 at Hennepin Methodist Church in Minneapolis, and received her bachelor’s degree with honors cum laude at the University of Minnesota in 1957.
Known by many as the “Wildflower Lady,” Lorraine led a renaissance life. In recent years her passion of wildflowers was followed internationally on BoundaryWatersCanoeArea.com and seen locally in community gardens.
She loved woodworking as seen in furniture she made, stairs she helped build on portages, the home she finished with her husband, and the log cabin she built with her children without the help of road access or electricity.
Through the 70s, Lorraine had a leatherworking business, Leather Lor, making leather dolls, purses, puppets, and more. Her dolls were found in gift shops along the North Shore, including Lake Superior Trading Post and Pioneer Crafts.
Lorraine was an accomplished author with Leathercraft
published by Lerner, several magazine articles, and numerous self-published books.
Her most recent publication, Wildflowers
of Cook County,
can be found on display at the Cook County Library.
Lorraine loved the North Shore and its wildlife. She participated in bird counts and enjoyed feeding the birds at her home. She met weekly with special friends for wildflower hikes. She participated in Superior Hiking Trail annual retreats and planned several Isle Royale trips. She shared her love of nature through photography and handmade photo note cards.
Lorraine worked as a florist for many years at Bachman’s, Malmborg’s, and locally at Photo Art.
She is preceded in death by her parents, and her in-laws, Marguerite and Ludwig Anderson.
She is survived by her husband, Warren; two daughters, Kristen Sobanja and Jennifer Fenwick of Grand Marais; and one son, Erik Anderson of Lakeville, MN; and five grandchildren, Jeremiah Yeary, Jeff Fenwick, Luke Fenwick of Grand Marais, MN, Kyle Sobanja of Minneapolis, MN, and Autumn Anderson, of Lakeville, MN.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 5 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Grand Marais at 11 a.m. Pastors Mark Ditmanson and Kristin Garey will officiate.
Gifts in memoriam will be accepted for the wildflower gardens at Chik-Wauk, Harbor Friends, Grand Marais Senior Center, and Cook County North Shore Hospital Hospice Fund through the Lorraine Anderson Memorial Fund, Grand Marais State Bank, PO Box 100, Grand Marais.
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