Obituary of Patricia "Pat" Jean Anderson

Beloved wife, mother and sister, Patricia J. (Lucas Bredberg) Anderson, 79, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and formerly of Dixon, Illinois, passed to her eternal rest with the Lord on Saturday, December 29, 2018 at her home.She was born November 13, 1939 in Alpha, Illinois.Pat is preceded in death by her parents, Edmund and Edna (Shephard) Lucas; and sister, Shirley (Lucas) Langebartels.She is survived by her husband, Edwin G. Anderson; three children, Kandi Sue (Bredberg) and husband Jeff Warning of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Michael Bredberg of Rock Falls, Illinois, and Tina Marie (Bredberg) Janssen of Castle Pines, Colorado; two step-children, Michael E. and wife Dawn Anderson of Fortville, Indiana, and Melanie A. (Anderson) and Brian Bristol of Gilbert, Arizona; one granddaughter, Beth Marie Warning of Leander, Texas; six step-grandchildren, Christy (Anderson) Scott, Coleman Anderson, Caleb Anderson, Josiah Bristol, Hannah Bristol and Sarah Bristol; as well as two sisters, Linda (Lucas May) and husband George Hart, and Mary (Lucas) and husband Dick Livingston.Patricia's greatest loves were being a wife, mom and grandma. She was involved in the church, a community volunteer, loved gardening, shopping and square dancing. Patricia was a successful businesswoman and owner of Lee County Title and Abstract Company.Memorial Service, 1:00PM, Thursday, January 3, 2019, First Presbyterian Church, 219 East Bijou Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903. Memorial contributions in Pat's honor may be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, 383 Main Avenue 5th Floor, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851. (tribute.themmrf.org/patanderson)Autobiography by Patricia J. Bredberg Anderson:My parents influences on me as a child have left wonderful memories, and impressions and directed me in my spiritual life -LIFE WITH CHRIST-. Kneeling at the side of my bed - praying - saying Grace before meals and knowing that I could talk to God at any given moment of the day or night was bequeathed upon me from the date of inception.When I was twelve, my parents moved to a small rural farming village with a population of about 100 people. They purchased one of the three remaining businesses in the community. Ophiem, Illinois was a growing prosperous town in the early part of the century but because of the GREAT DEPRESSION all that was left of the business district in 1949 was a grocery store with the post office housed internally, grain elevator and general store.Mother and Daddy purchased the general store and immediately became aware of the extremely long days - from 4:00AM when the "Wonder Bread" man would deliver the fresh baked bread for the day, until closing at 9:00PM at night in order for the farmers to bring in their fresh eggs of the day - to be candled and traded for groceries. Our home was part of the building that housed the store with a doorway passing directly from the kitchen into the isles of groceries and produce.I was an obedient child, always striving to please my parents. I felt no task was too large or small. I was one of four daughters. My oldest sister did not move from Moline to Ophiem, as she had already graduated from High School and was in nursing training. The second daughter was four years older than myself and the fourth daughter was eight years younger than me. The youngest daughter was twenty-four months old when we moved to Ophiem. I loved my baby sister and felt compelled to help with her knowing how hard my parents worked to be able to give to their daughters the education they did not have. Mom's parents brought her to the United States from England at the age of four. Her mother died during the flu epidemic of 1918 when Mom was eleven years old. Mom, being the oldest child, had to quit school to become the mother image for her younger brother and sisters. Daddy finished the second grade and then was needed to help support his siblings.I remember precisely the day I was cleaning the house for Mom when JESUS CHRIST came into my life. What a warm and wonderful feeling. I wanted to share this JOY and experience but felt very awkward and thinking I would be laughed at. I decided not to share this experience with anyone. Even though my parents were Christians they did not openly show their love for Jesus other than to direct us through prayer at our bedside. So, for many years my JOYOUS love of the Lord was oppressed.Mom managed the grocery business while Daddy worked in the foundry. I felt compelled to help Mom as much as I could during the evenings and weekends. Summertime was always a great time as the farmers would come in for their snacks and buy groceries and tell their stories as they were waiting for their grain to be weighed and stored. Because of the long grueling hours, seven days a week, that I witness in the business world I made a promise to myself not to ever own a business.I graduated from High School and went to a trade school. I was able to get a job with a major airline in a metropolitan city a few hundred miles from my hometown. I was very much in love and came back home three months later and married my high school sweetheart.Fifteen months later our precious first child was born. At the time of her birth, I had the same wonderful feeling and closeness that I had with Christ when Jesus came into my life at the age of eleven. Kandi has had major medical problems since she was 28 days old and still having reoccurring trauma due to the treatment that was administered at this very young age. Fourteen and a half months later our second child was born prematurely. He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of six months. We were told that he would never walk.My faith in the Lord sustained me. I knew that the two of us were walking this walk together. I prayed that he would hold my hand and guide me through the troubled days ahead. I never asked the question "Why God me, why God my children?" I felt that God had given us all a mission. All that I wanted to do was the BEST that I had to give. Through numerous braces, splints, physical therapy, surgeries, lengthy hospital stays Mike walked at the age of ten without being depended upon any aids. This was truly a miracle from God. Kandi was diagnosed as having juvenile rheumatic arthritis when she was twelve years old. She had already endured many surgeries by this age due to the birth defect that appeared on her eye lid several days after birth. We had two choices of treatment, one was do nothing and allow the blood vessel tumor to continue to spread all over her face and head and have a short longevity or to administer radium by injecting radium seeds into the tumor. This treatment was in its infancy and little was known of its long term effects. We selected the radium procedure. Through a period of many years, the procedure was effective but has affected her autoimmunity system.Our third child was born when Mike was ten years old. She was a wonderful blessing into our lives. When Tina was sixteen months old I started working part time for a lady who did real estate abstracting. I learned how to research real estate records at the court house along with many other tasks. I continued to grow in my knowledge and after four years at the company I got a job with the competitor. Ann had retired and a man from Chicago had purchased her business and I was uncomfortable with the ethics of the new owner.After working at Lee County Title and Abstract Company for four years, I went into management and the title examine. Two attorneys owned Lee County Title through a partnership. They became unhappy with one another and decided to split their partnership. The Title County became the BIG issue and two years later a decision was made as to trying to keep both attorneys happy and the title company in existence. This meant long hours each day and taking the books home at night and on the weekends to work on. Luke owned the Title Company for a year and while on a trip in Hawaii died. The Title Company then was a part of his estate.I knew that I did not want to buy the title company because of my childhood memories. Kandi was now in college and Mike had graduated from High School. We didn't have any savings to buy a business. I was extremely stressed out and tired.A year of curious seekers wanting to buy the title company and wanting to know if I would manage the business for them was satisfying to me. I did realize that perhaps after the new purchaser would pick my mind and use my energy for six months that I would possibly be out on the streets, The local banker came to me one day and shared with me that I was Lee County Title. The bank wanted me to purchase the Company. If I didn't buy Lee County Title the bank would like to purchase it and have me manage the business for the bank. I related to Jim that we didn't have the reserves to buy a business. His reply to me was that the bank would give me every penny I needed to purchase Lee County Title. That evening I went home and prayed asking for a clear mind so I could hear the Lord's WORD...The answer came the next day. From that day forward I became a better listener in hearing the Lord's answer rather than thinking that I had control over my life.Three months later I moved the company from the small office that it was located in to an office that had 3,200 square feet. Three years later I had the mortgage paid off and the business continued to grow. I had gained self-esteem in myself. My marriage had been on the rocks for many years. All I wanted was happiness and for my spouse to be happy and to be able to bring happiness into my children's lives. I suggested counseling to my husband but he was negative in his response. He had always wanted me to project that we were a happy family which I was able to do. I sought counseling for myself even though this made my spouse unhappy with me. I finally made a decision to file for divorce, not wanting to hurt him but knowing I had to now take care of myself and go on my life journey.I hadn't contemplated retirement. I just thought I would work until I dropped. Little did I know what wonderful adventures that the Lord had in sight for me. By now, Kandi had married a wonderful man and moved to Colorado where their daughter was born. Beth is now nine years old. In January, 1995 I had taken a week off work to be with Beth while her parents vacationed. During that week God was speaking to me of possibly retiring in Colorado at some point in my life. In March, 1995 I purchased an older car to use whenever I would be in Colorado. In July, 1995 I purchased a townhouse. In August, I was at my home in Illinois working in my yard. I was hot, humid and mosquitos biting. I went into the house and was resting. The Lord spoke to me about knowing a better place to live and the time was right to move to a new place in my life. The next day I put my home up for sale. Two weeks later I sold my home. A week later closed on the transaction and was on my way to Colorado.In January, 1995 I had hired my first supervisor which made it possible for me to work my business as a long distance owner along with the fax machine and daily drops by UPS for files to be examined.The Lord has freed up this time in my life to be able to travel and witness for HIM. The first week in June I will be going to Tecate, Mexico on a work crusade and sharing the WORD OF THE LORD.By Pat Anderson:1. Jesus, my savior is with me at all times, guiding me through my earthly walk of life. 2. I have participated at FPC by post greeting, hospital visits, serving communication during services and home communion to four special care individuals. I help with washing communion dishes at services, and I am currently on the leadership team and co-treasurer of the Becomers Sunday School class.3. I am currently involved in mission by listening to and attending to the needs of all who I come in contact with.4. I am interested in this missions project, to fill a need by serving the Lord and by sharing my life experiences and gifts that I have been blessed with. I have been to Mexico and Spain on short term mission trips, building a home and remodeling a chapel and other facilities at a retreat center.5. Christ will be served by sharing my heart and listening to the local people and missionaries. Reaching my hand out to truly let them know that I personally care for them.6. My experience and skills/gifts for this assignment come from my past short term missionary service with the FPC on doulos and two trips with MFMI to Mexico in 1997. In year 1999, Ed went with me to Costa Rica and met with the church people there. In year 2003, Ed and I traveled to MAdrid, Spain to assist with maintenance work at the Rock of Horeb Church camp. These were positive experiences in which we grew in our spiritual walk and related to the people of each country.7. Men for Missions will give us orientation materials and meet with us as we leave on our journey to Quito, Ecuador. We are also reading of the recent developments in Ecuador and are making contact with the missionaries in Quito and in Costa Rica. Events Memorial Service Thursday, January 3, 2019 1:00PM First Presbyterian Church 219 E. Bijou Street Colorado Springs, CO 80903 Phone: 719-884-6100