Jessica, named after a character in the movie “The Man From Snowy River “, was well-traveled, even in her youth, living in Rapid City, then Aberdeen, SD, Texas City, TX, Colorado Springs and Alamosa, CO, Warrensburg, MO, and Sioux Falls, SD.
In high school, she was a Washington Warrior, participating in the marching band, playing clarinet, and counseling kids at Lief Erickson day camp in the summers.
In college, she was a University of Minnesota Gopher, graduating with a teaching degree, and in her spare time, volunteered at a children’s hospital and worked with kids with autism and other developmental delays.
She taught math at Blue Valley Middle School in Kansas City and married Luke Anschutz on December 29th, 2007.
Their next 18 years together marked major milestones for Jessica, including becoming a mother to Isla in 2011 and Jack in 2013.
Her travels continued as an adult, with family vacations to Florida, Arizona, Wyoming and Colorado to name just a few.
After a move to Lincoln NE in 2014, Jessica focused on raising her family and all that entails, all the while pursuing her interests:
She joined a book club and a podcast club.
She moved into her dream home late last year.
She was a Swiftie who loved Junkstock and jigsaw puzzles.
She was a chef and a chauffeur for her family.
A vegetarian…and a volunteer: helping her church coordinate their youth programs. She also gave of her time to help make healthcare more available to women and advocated for better care for LGBTQ+ children in Nebraska.
Passionate politically, Jessica worked at voting precincts in local elections.
She was an activist who was active.
She practiced yoga, was a walker, a hiker, a runner, and a person who liked a challenge, completing her 8th Twin Cities Tough Mudder in June.
She loved her pets. Her dogs Lorelei and Paisley already miss her greatly.
Her last job was as a clinical coordinator at a pediatric occupational therapy office, working as the face of the clinic and helping children get the services they needed.
With one last act of generosity, Jessica donated her heart, liver, and both kidneys, helping give both hope and life to others.
She was the engine that kept everything moving. Her family could not be more honored that she will be able to use her organs to help keep someone else’s engine running – both literally and figuratively.
Surviving family members include her husband, Luke Anschutz and children Isla and Jack; parents, Mark (Carol) Andersen of Canistota, SD and Sharon (Curt Jaqua) Braun of Sioux Falls, SD; brother, Jason (Kelly) Andersen and children Emmett and Lily of Westminster, CO; and paternal grandparents Vernal and Pat Andersen of Sioux Falls, SD; plus numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Ed and Ann Artz of Rapid City, SD and step-brother, Grant Hoscheid of Sturgis, SD.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 6, 2025 at Roper and Sons South Chapel, 3950 Hohensee Drive in Lincoln.
Please direct any memorials to Voices of Hope.
Link to Service Recording: https://vimeo.com/1116406266/fdde4cd7cc?share=copy