Obituary for Colleen "Coggie" Anderson

Colleen Norma Anderson "Coggie" was born January 13, 1951 in Alexandria MN to Ernest and Norma (Olson) Reiland. She was the oldest of three girls and grew up in Alexandria. Coggie attended Alexandria Public Schools and graduated from Jefferson Senior High in 1969. She went on to Concordia College In Moorhead MN where she graduated early, with honors, and earned a Bachelor of Music Degree.

Coggie was united in marriage to Robert Alan Anderson on June 18, 1972, at Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria. They were blessed with one son Jordy Robert, and made their home in Brooklyn Park MN and later in Cedar MN. Coggie and Bob taught public school music in the Fargo / Moorhead area. In 1974 they signed a contract to teach music in Melbourne Australia, returning in 1976. Coggie and Bob joined Advent Lutheran Church in 1979 and soon became the choir director. Later she became the director of worship and music and held that position until her retirement in 2016 – a span of over 30 years.

Coggie was an amazingly talented music director and singer, however; her talents did not end with music. She also loved cooking for her family, shopping, finding the perfect gift for someone special, her little dog Dixie, old movies with a happy ending, anything with dancing and choreography, fashionable clothing, shoes and jewelry, and a thousand other things. But her deepest love was for her family and her church. She loved people and if Coggie wanted to be your friend, then you were going to become her friend.

Throughout the years, Coggie planned trips for her family including several Royal Caribbean cruises and a Disney cruise, enjoying Cancun Mexico and the Hard Rock Resort, road trips to Mt Rushmore and Devils Tower in Wyoming, and a train trip to Chicago which included staying downtown in a great hotel and taking in the museums and planetarium, and discovering that A Taste Of Chicago was going on that very same week. Her last family vacation in July, was a cruise that left Orlando and traveled to St Thomas and St Maarten. It was in honor of her grandsons’ middle school and high school graduations and in hindsight became a very special final vacation.

Coggie died on Thursday January 23, 2025, at home surrounded by family. She was 74 years old. She is survived by her husband Bob; her son Jordy (Mandy) Anderson of Brooklyn Park and her grandchildren, Seth and Luke Anderson.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Norma Reiland.

The family wishes to thank Hospice of the Midwest. We are so appreciative of the kind and loving care given to Coggie.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday February 13, 2025 at Advent Lutheran Church in Maple Grove, with pastor Elizabeth Felt officiating. Visitation is at 10am and the service starts at 11am. The Anderson family invites you to join them for a lunch immediately following the service in the Fellowship Hall.