Carol Sue (Wells) Anderson

Carol Sue Anderson, 84, of Geneseo, IL, passed away on May 13, 2023, at the Summit of Bettendorf. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 AM on Thursday, May 18, 2023, at Geneseo Evangelical Free Church with Pastor Steve Palm officiating. Visitation will be held from 5-7 PM on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at Vandemore Funeral Home & Crematory-Geneseo Chapel. Interment will be held at the Rock Island National Cemetery at a later date. Memorials can be made in her name to the American Alzheimer’s Association. Condolences can be left at www.vandemorefuneralhome.com

Carol was born in Lawrenceville, Illinois, in her parent’s home. She attended the Lawrenceville schools, where she was very active in music. Carol graduated from Lawrenceville High School and then attended Eastern Illinois University. She then worked in the Lawrenceville Hospital laboratory, until she moved to Moline, IL to join her brother, Kermit Wells.

In March 1961, she met Alan C. Anderson of Geneseo, IL, who would become the love of her life. Carol then married 2nd Lt. Alan C. Anderson on June 16, 1962. This started her career as an Air Force wife. They had many wonderful adventures and three children as they moved from state to state for the next 20 years: Sacramento, CA; Abilene, TX; Anchorage, AK; Lawrenceville, IL (while Alan served in Vietnam); Columbus, OH; Ft. Walton Beach, FL, Sumter, SC, and then post-retirement, to Geneseo, IL.

She was a member of the church choir at Grace United Methodist Church, taught Sunday School, and was very active with Christian Women’s Club. Carol and Alan later became members of the Geneseo Evangelical Free Church, and there she remained a member until her passing. Her prayers (and the prayers of her parents) created a legacy of faith in her family of five and the generations to come. Part of her powerful legacy of faith is the fact that she led her husband, Alan into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Art, home decorating, animals of all kinds, especially horses, and of course, her grandchildren were Carol’s passions. Her home was open to all…from high schoolers needing a meal, (especially Pizza Hut or Roy’s Taco House) or even a bed after a late-night practice or snowstorm. And there were always extra places set at the Thanksgiving or Christmas table. She even designed the sets for the Geneseo High School Madrigal Dinner, a tradition that continues today. Her favorite activities included going to horse shows, attending car shows with Alan, and home design including the design of two-family homesteads.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Alan Anderson; her children and spouses, Kimberly and Bill Farb (Bettendorf, IA), Scott and Susan Anderson (Davenport, IA), Kelly and Timothy Yager (Geneseo, IL); her brother Kermit Wells (Moline, IL); Grandchildren; Rebekah Farb, Abigail Farb, Mark Farb, Michael Farb, Stephen Yager (Lisa), Matthew Yager, Elizabeth Yager, and Anna Chirillo (Matthew), and five great-grandchildren; Reed and Cole Yager, Charlie, Lucy and Henry Chirillo, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Karen and Wilmar Kohne (Salem, Oregon).

Carol was preceded in death by her parents, Gordon and Thelma Wells, and her sister and brother-in-law, Beverly and Charles Orr.