August 22, 1950 — March 5, 2026
Margaret L. Anderson, 75, of Mason City, passed away on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at Epiphany Parish Holy Family Catholic Church, 722 N Adams Ave. A visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. with a Rosary and Scriptural Wake Service at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N Pennsylvania Ave. Burial will be held in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Margaret was born August 22, 1950 in Mason City, Iowa to Harold and Marie (Gagnon) Ziegler. She attended Holy Family Catholic School and then later graduating from Newman Catholic High School in 1968. While in high school, she took up playing the piano to later playing the organ and then becoming an organist for Holy Family Catholic Church. After graduation, she attended NIACC and began working at Damon‘s department store. This is where she was pursued by the love of her life. She was introduced to her devoted husband Carl Anderson. It was love at first sight for Carl, whom was with his brother picking up his sister-in-law and saw Margaret standing outside after her shift. He told them she was the most beautiful woman he has ever seen and he knew he wanted a date with her. Finding the courage to ask, the rest became history and they remained faithfully devoted to each other and married for 54 years until her death.
Carl and Margaret were married December 30, 1971 at Holy Family Catholic Church. After her marriage to Carl they resided in Ames, Iowa where Carl was attending Iowa State University. During this time she attended and received her associates degree from DMACC. With this degree, she became a key punch operator for Iowa State University. After Carl’s graduation from Iowa State University, they moved back to Mason City to later take over and own Mechanical Air Systems Company. To this union they welcomed their two greatest achievements and gifts from God. Their daughter Sarah and then their son Tyson. They built a life of faith and love for their family.
Margaret’s greatest joy was her family and beyond her family was her faith and those combined she was very passionate about her children’s education and raising them as good Christians. She was later gifted with her grandchildren that were the shine and twinkle in her eyes. She was so proud of them and loved to watch them grow into wonderful and caring children that they all are. She never missed an opportunity, if she couldn’t, to watch and support her grandchildren. She also took many joy with her coffee visits with all her amazing friends, watching Hallmark movies, HGTV, and all of the cooking channels. She loved watching the Olympics, especially ice-skating, which she loved to do as a young woman and as a young adult herself. She loved shopping and especially with her daughter during long weekends in the cities. But what filled and competed her heart was her many travels with her husband to the beautiful turquoise blue waters that they both held and he will continue to hold deeply in their hearts.
She will be remembered for her smile, her sense of humor, her genuine compassion for others, and her love for her family and friends. Her generosity, caring and kindness was always something you could expect and count on from her. She would always be by your side and would always want to take care of you no matter any circumstance. Margaret was a selfless person who was loved by everyone. Her legacy will live on in the many lives she touched and the family she cherished deeply.
As a faithful and devoted parishioner of Holy Family Catholic Church for many decades, Margaret lived in her faith, relentlessly through her kindness, generosity, and love of others.
Margaret is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 54 years, Carl Anderson, her daughter and best friend Sarah (Jonathan) Carson, her loving son Tyson (Kelly) Anderson, her beautiful and loving grandchildren Noah Carson, Jonah Carson and Isaiah Carson, Elijah Anderson, Willow Anderson and Mason Anderson, her brother Terry (Lynette) Ziegler, her sister who was dear to her heart, Nancy (Tom) Hurd and brother Tom (Pam) Ziegler, sister-in-law’s Sharon (Anderson) Merfeld, Bonnie Harrington, and Patricia (Groath) Peterson, a special and dear niece Emily Curry and many other loving nieces and nephews. She is also survived by many great and loving friends and her best friend of many years Brenda Heinz.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Marie (Gagnon) Ziegler, her father and mother-in-law, Gunner and Lavonne (Rezab) Anderson, brother and sister-in-law Duane And Betty Anderson, brother-in-law’s Kenny Merfeld, Chuck Harrington and Dewey Groath.
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