Annika Jean Anderson

Annika Jean Anderson was born to Andrea and Barry Anderson in 1985 in Brainerd, Minnesota. Alongside sisters Kelsey and Amy, she grew up in lake country, sparking a lifelong love for swimming, boat rides, and wildlife spotting. She would spend her days fishing for sunnies or filling her frog box with frogs and snakes. She once won a loon calling contest in Nisswa with the sweetest tiny little hoot, and the crowd absolutely swooned at her big blue eyes and bright blonde hair.

Annika graduated from Minnetonka High School in 2003, and later received her associate of arts, Phi Theta Kappa, from Normandale Community College. She also attended the University of Minnesota, where the highlight was a summer field research program at the Itasca Biological Station, studying mammals near the beautiful and sacred headwaters of the Mississippi. Annika worked at Excelsior mainstays like Beacon Bank and Ming Wok, but her favorite job was working at garden centers where she could “wet her plants” and help people beautify their flower beds. Her favorite garden flowers were dahlias, zinnias, and giant marigolds, and she was always delighted to share her seeds with you.

Annika was an enchanting and talented artist, and her work adorns many walls around the Twin Cities and lake country. She used colored pencils, water colors, collage, and more to render artworks that were sometimes sweet, sometimes sassy, and always beautiful. She specifically loved painting birds, bears, flowers, and mermaids. She was also a ceramicist, creating many beautiful pots, bowls, and vases on the pottery wheel, or creating sculptures by hand.

A self-proclaimed “bird nerd,” Annika volunteered at the University of Minnesota Raptor Center where she enjoyed feeding the birds, helping on bird bath day, and even participating in raptor releases.

Annika’s life was defined by the things she loved, and the passion with which she loved them. First and foremost, her friends and family. To be known by Annika was to be loved and cared for. She also loved her pets– a goofy black dog named Gidget, and a sweet orange tabby cat named Remy. She had a long string of betta fish with punny names like Draco Milfoil, Michael Jacksfin, and Shark Twain.

She also knew how to appreciate the little things, like eating non-breakfast foods like macaroni and cheese or casserole for breakfast. She loved watching shows and movies with her friends Tim and Randy, and cracking jokes to make them laugh. She loved floating in lakes or swinging in hammocks. Her quick wit and clever zingers absolutely sparkled.

It was Annika’s lifelong dream to be a mermaid, so we imagine her in a heavenly lagoon with a brightly colored tail and many fish friends.

Preceded in death by father Barry Anderson and grandparents Stanley and Phyllis Anderson and Jack and Marilyn Landberg. Survived by mother Andrea Anderson of Deerwood; sisters Kelsey (Andy) Quiring and Amy (Rob) Weidman; nephews Drew, Owen, and Arthur, and nieces Linnea and Zoey, all of Chanhassen; dear friend Timothy Neumann of Minneapolis, and a legion of loving aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

A private memorial is being planned for a later date.