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Roberta Ann Shutz Anderson (Bobbie) passed away Saturday morning June 1, 2024 with her husband at her side in her home in River Falls Township.
Bobbie was born in St. Louis, Missouri June 10, 1953 to Edgar Ray Shutz and Flo Ann Shutz. She grew up in Waukegan, IL attending an elementary Catholic parochial school and graduating from Holy Child High School, an all-girl Catholic high school. Upon graduating from high school, Bobbie worked several jobs to pay her own way through college. She attended Lake County Junior College for two years before transferring to Illinois State University at Bloomington/Normal, Illinois, from which she graduated with an elementary education teaching degree. She obtained her first and career long teaching position in River Falls as a 6th grade instructor beginning at Greenwood Elementary.
Shortly after starting her elementary teaching career, which lasted 33 years, she successfully organized, developed, and lobbied the staff and administration to launch an outdoor education and camping experience for the Greenwood 6th grade students. When the Meyer Middle School was created, the program expanded to all 6th grade students making the logistics much more challenging; but she and the other staff members were determined to make it work—and it did. The program lasted for approximately 28 years exposing hundreds of students to her vision of children learning about nature while living in it— rain or shine.
In 1978 Bobbie Shutz became Bobbie Anderson as she married Steven Anderson and became a loving stepmother to two amazing girls, Kim and Kris Anderson.
Bobbie coached the high school varsity volleyball team, announced countless gymnastic events and served as a co-leader of the Trail Travelers 4H club, which has since been absorbed by another 4H club.
Even though Bobbie has become somewhat legendary with her chocolate chip cookies to family and friends, her main passion has become the making of quilts. She has made a multitude of quilts for family and friends, as well as friends of friends, service providers, and has even donated her quilts to support auctions of worthy causes.
Bobbie is survived by her husband Steven, stepdaughters Kim (John) Serene, Kris (Dennis) Rondeau and grandchildren Jayden Serene, Carter Serene, Lucas Serene, Declan Rondeau and Sydney Rondeau. She is also survived by her brother Bruce (Nancy) and several nephews and nieces and their children.
Bobbie is preceded in death by her parents, Edgar Raymond Shutz and Flo Ann Shutz, as well as her brother Brad Shutz.
A memorial service was held Friday, June 14, 2024 at 11:00 am at Ezekiel Lutheran Church (202 S 2nd St.) in River Falls. Visitation was Thursday, June 13, 2024 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Ezekiel Lutheran and also on Friday from 10:00-11:00 am before the service. Interment was in Gilman Lutheran Church Cemetery. Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services.
Click on the following link to watch Bobbie’s Memorial service.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR5i0B-oZQQpXVsLGovbZoA/live
24 Comments
Bobbie was such a wonderful person. Excellent educator and friend. It was a pleasure having her as a co-worker. You will be missed by many.
My favorite teacher of all time! Loved her so! Mrs. Anderson will be in my heart, honored and treasured for her passion for reading, writing, and educating middle schoolers, especially those who didn’t quite fit in for years to come. What a gift she was to this world.
Bobbi was a wonderful person, colleague and teacher for my girls. She was an inspirational woman of many talents. She will be missed.
Bobbie was respected and loved by students and staff! She was an inspirational teacher that will live on in the hearts of many💜
I will miss my aunt Bobbie so much. She was so incredibly smart and kind. I will miss those amazing chocolate chip cookies and the most amazing quilts I have ever seen. Aunt Bobbie was one in a million. She cared for and about everyone’s happiness. She always thought about others first. I will always remember how wholesome she was and what a great role model she was for everyone she came in contact with. She will truly be missed.
Steve, I’m so sorry for your family’s loss. Bobbie was such a kind, enthusiastic and fun-loving person. She will forever be part of so many of my treasured memories. I can recall her easy laughter and yummy chocolate chip cookies. My deepest condolences.
Bobbie loved kids and loved teaching. She always had a beautiful smile and such a great sense of humor. I can still hear her laugh. We were all blessed to know her.
Mrs. Anderson, as I always called her, was an absolute rock star among middle school teachers. She championed kids who really needed her in their corner. I will be forever grateful to her. I’m so sorry for her family’s loss. She was special.
Bobbi was a wonderful person and teacher. My thoughts are with all her friends and family.
Bobbie was such a happy person, even when she was mad about something. Her love of teaching and children was obvious to everyone who knew her. It was a privilege to teach with her at Meyer Middle School.
Such sad news. Our sympathy to Steve, Kim,and Kris. Bobbie was a wonderful person to know.
Steve and family, I am so very sorry for the loss of of your sweet, generous, kind, loving and joyful Bobbie. We met through the Castle group over 10 years ago and she was always a joy to be around and talk to. I even enjoyed talks more recently with her concerning a series I got her hooked on, Signed Sealed Delivered on Hallmark. I will miss her friendship a great deal. Much love and prayers to all of you.
Bobbie was one of my absolute favorite people in this whole world! We met through Castle. We also shared the meeting of Nathan Fillion together in L.A. back in 2012, a memory which I will hold forever in my heart!! And we have had so many memorable moments since, especially when we Castle fans would meet up every year! My husband was her favorite “Phil Photo” (she named him that) as he was always documenting our yearly gatherings with his camera! 🙂
Her laugh was the best, she was so well-spoken (I love receiving notes in the mail from her), and I feel absolutely honored that my husband, myself, my mother, and both of our sons have a quilt that she made!
Steve, and family, I am sending heartfelt condolences for your immense loss, and all the warmest hugs you all need. I sure could use one of Bobbie’s right now – she was the best! I feel blessed to have crossed paths with her for 13 short years. She will be in my heart, Always.
Very hard to accept that a person like Bobbie who gave all of us who were blessed to have met her, joy, warmth, heart, and love! I know she she will stay in my heart forever and I will continue to hear her laugh and talk to her in all my memories of the last 12 years since meeting her for the first time in Chicago.
My prayers are with Steve, Kim, Kristine, and their families! May she rest in peace!
I met Bobbie through our Castle group. I always enjoyed the opportunities to meet up and spend time together. We started out sharing love of a television show and moved to sharing love within our group. One of my favorite memories is the day Bobbie and Steve hosted our group at their home and Bobbie surprised us all with a pile of quilts she had made for all of us.
To the family, prayers and condolences on her passing.
I’m so sorry to hear of Bobbie’s passing. She was a wonderful colleague, so easy to work with and so much fun. Sympathy to Steve and the girls.
We will sorely miss our Castle friend. We also bonded over Hallmark shows and Christmas novels. She was a very special person and will be sorely missed by the people whose lives she touched.
My sympathy to Bobbie’s family. She was a wonderful teacher, friend and colleague. She had a heart of gold and was loved by us all. She will be missed.
Steve, Kim, Kris and families, I am sorry to hear of Bobbie’s passing. Her laugh was contagious. I didn’t know or remember that she headed up 6th grade camp- I love it! Bobbie was an amazing teacher, but most importantly an amazing human being. Please know that we’re lifting you all up in prayer. May your memories bring more smiles than tears in the days, months, and years ahead.
Even though I only met her once, Bobbie was a light of joy throughout my life. My mom met her through Castle, and they became best friends. Bobbie would send us homemade caramels every Christmas, get me thoughtful birthday presents, and of course made me and my mom quilts. She will be missed 💗
Such a huge loss for all that knew her. I hold her family and Steve in my thoughts. I knew Bobbie over 10 years through the Castle crew. Always sharing and loving, she will be sorely missed. My heart aches.
Our heartfelt sympathy to you Steve and your family. Bobbie was a wonderful friend and colleague, a fantastic teacher, child-centered and shared so much love and concern for her students. Her smile and laughter were contagious. As her principal I observed her tremendous enthusiasm and expertise as a middle level teacher. She will be greatly missed.
Bobbie was the best cousin ever! We always looked forward when our families got to spend their summer vacations together! We had two wonderful family reunions hosted by Bobbie and Steve which we will never forget in River Falls. Bobbie was a kind soul and a wonderful friend…I will miss our phone conversations and Facebook posts! She will be missed but never forgotten
I just found out last night about Bobbie’s passing. Steve, Kris, & Kim I’m so sorry for your loss. Bobbie and I met in kindergarten in Waukegan and became best friends throughout grade school. We continued our close friendship as roommates in college. Bobbie was truly one of the most genuine and sweet of all my closest friends. My prayers are with you all during this difficult time.
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