Denise Anderson

Denise Renae Anderson: beloved mom, sister, aunt, teacher, director, “Glam” and “Grandma Neese”, and treasured friend, passed peacefully in her sleep on Feb. 9th, 2022 at her home in Highlands Ranch, CO. She was 69. A choral director who moved frequently, Denise leaves a legacy of friends, choir members, and colleagues from Colorado, Arizona, Oklahoma, central Europe, California, and South Dakota. A service is planned for 10 AM May 21st at St. Luke’s UMC in Highlands Ranch; those who sang in Denise’s choirs are strongly encouraged to come lift their voices together at this celebration of her life. Please email nannestad@gmail.com to express interest.

The oldest child of Cal and Judy Anderson, she was born Nov. 3rd , 1952 at Camp LeJeune, NC. After the Marines, her father started work for Otter Tail Power Company; Denise and her siblings Jean and Kevin grew up in Clear Lake, SD, where she was active in band, choir, cheerleading, and piano.

She earned a Bachelor of Choral Music Education from South Dakota State University. Marrying Steve Nannestad, she embarked on the life of an Air Force spouse and completed a second major in Theater Arts at Cal State-San Bernardino. Older son Joshua was born in southern California; the next move was to Oklahoma City, where younger son Zachary was born. During this period, Denise also earned a Master of Conducting at the University of Oklahoma.

The next move was perhaps the most significant: the family spent five years living in West Germany in the 1980s. They traveled widely, from Norway to Greece to Spain to Austria. Denise was the most reliable German speaker in the family (“ein bisschen”), and the most adventurous diner, usually ordering the unknown menu item. She also traveled to Russia and East Germany to study the lives of J.S. Bach and Luther. While stationed at the NATO base in Geilenkirchen, Denise founded an international choir that grew to 100 singers; their annual performance of Handel’s Messiah was broadcast on the BBC on Christmas Day.

Returning to the U.S., she led church music ministry programs for an additional tour in Oklahoma City, and Prescott, AZ, and then Centennial, CO. She was an active leader in the Presbyterian Association of Musicians, undertook some theological training, and often served in pastoral care roles in addition to her musical work. Most of all, she created a welcome environment for people to connect with each other and their faith through music, fellowship, and a good joke.

She was plagued by severe rheumatoid arthritis at a young age, which interrupted her plans to be a concert pianist. She adapted, first by becoming a gifted collaborative pianist and then by studying conducting. She was known to play rehearsals using only eight fingers, or to conduct concerts with her baton wedged into an arm cast.

She loved her friends from around the world, and she loved her mountains. While hiking with around Estes Park with Dutch friends in 2004, she suffered a catastrophic fall. Ultimately this injury would result in the amputation of her left leg, but with the help of her dear friends, she continued to live an energetic life: traveling, teaching, attending conferences, playing roles in shows, and playing with her grandchildren.

She said she was most proud of raising two strong and loving sons who excel in their fields. Josh has a Doctorate in conducting and is a professor at Morningside University in Sioux City, Iowa. After several years serving in the Air Force in the field of emergency preparedness, Zach moved to Colorado. He earned a Master of Public Health degree and serves as the Director of Environmental Health for the 85 schools of Douglas County Public School District. Her sons also gifted her with three wonderful grandchildren: Miriam and Moses (children of Josh and Joanna) and Jackson (son of Zach and Jayme).

Denise was blessed that her parents lived a wonderful long life so she could share and learn from them so profoundly. She is also survived by her sister Jean and Larry Underberg, niece Shannon, as well as her brother Kevin and Cindy Anderson, and nieces Kallie and Kacee.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Performing Arts Academy of Colorado or the Arthritis Foundation .

She wrote her own epitaph:

She made us laugh

She made us cry

She helped bring us closer to God