Ingrid Barbara Engblom Anderson was born at Swedish Covenant Hospital, Chicago, Illinois on August 3, 1937, to her Swedish Immigrant parents, Gunnar and Ruth Engblom. She and her sister, Evelyn, grew up in a variety of locations in Chicago, accommodating their father, Gunnar’s work as an accomplished carpenter and custom home builder. Starting at a young age, Ingrid loved performing, mainly singing at church. She had to be coaxed off stage to stop singing. Ingrid was also quite the conversationalist from the very beginning. She often told the story of being sent to sit on the fire escape in high school for excessive talking. She graduated from North Park Academy in 1955 and went on to Swedish Covenant Hospital School of Nursing, where she graduated as a registered nurse in 1957. She met her beloved Loren while he was studying divinity at North Park Theological Seminary. They married on June 13, 1959, at Immanuel Covenant Church in Chicago, Illinois, and served churches in Minnesota, California, Michigan, and Connecticut. They had three children, Sheri (1961), Susie (1964), and Tim (1966). As a young mother, she pursued her special certification as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at the University of Michigan, of which she was very proud. 

The highlight of her career was providing care to the students and families at the Developmental Learning Program (for students with autism) at Burger School in Garden City, Michigan. She served the students both at the school as well as in their homes. In 1987, Ingrid received the Family Support Award from Wayne County Society for Autistic Citizens for her outstanding service to the families of persons with autism. In her free time, she loved swimming, water skiing, and running. As a pastor’s wife, she was a consummate hostess and loved entertaining people. Her favorite time of the year began the moment the last bite of Thanksgiving pumpkin pie was eaten, when the Christmas boxes, staged in the hallway, could be opened! She was all about Christmas and wanted to celebrate the season for as long as possible. Ingrid’s love of singing continued throughout life, as a soloist, and as a member of various church and community choirs. She especially loved singing Handel’s Messiah, Ride on King Jesus, and The Lord is My Light and My Salvation. The love of music and singing was shared by many family members, including her husband, Loren, sister Evelyn, and brother-in-law, George, who formed a perfect quartet that sang for many family gatherings. The Swedish Christmas song, Lyssna, was the favorite for the quartet to sing, which was performed with hilarity as Ingrid hit the high notes, bringing cheers from all in attendance. Ingrid also often talked about how much she loved her summers as camp nurse at Portage Lake Covenant Bible Camp in Onekama, Michigan. She and her family’s years connected to the camp brought many happy memories and stories. Ingrid’s love of God, and her desire for others to know His love, was a significant aspect of her entire life. 

In 1990, at age 52, Ingrid suffered a major stroke that paralyzed her right side. The resulting severe impairments took away her ability to work. However, she learned to walk again, as well as continue her love for acrylic and oil painting (now with her left hand). And, despite several falls and smaller strokes in the years that followed, and a lifelong battle with depression, her spirit persevered with courage and determination. Her beloved husband, Loren, was her devoted caregiver for six years until his untimely death from pancreatic cancer in 1996. Despite this deep loss, Ingrid lived the next twenty-five years with fortitude, receiving the nickname, “Energizer Bunny” from her family. Amazingly, her humor was always intact, providing more funny stories than most. Ingrid passed from this life into the next in the early hours of October 7, 2021, in the loving presence of her three children. What remained was her abiding love for her children and grandchildren, as well as her hope for a life free from disability and grief. May her life continued to be honored and celebrated through the stories of her love for others, her humor and her steadfast resolve that inspires many. 

Ingrid is survived by her children, Sheri (Peterson, Scott), Susie (Williams), Tim (Jennifer); her six grandchildren, Elissa, Brittney, Emma, Annika, Joshua, and Malin; and her sister, Evelyn (Elia), brother-in-law, George, and sister-in-law, Janet (Anderson). She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Loren, and brother-in-law, Merlin. 

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