Jobelle Anderson Shands

Jobelle Anderson Shands, daughter of Severt Andrew and Agnes (Davis) Anderson, passed away quietly on October 22, 2022.  Jobelle, born on July 4, 1921, grew up on the family farm next to the Republican River in Morganville, Kansas.  She graduated from the University of Kansas, taught high school science and math in western Kansas, and worked as a chemist in Virginia before moving to Madison, Wisconsin, where she earned a master’s degree in Home Economics.   There she met and married H.L. Shands. Together they built a home in the Village of Shorewood Hills where they raised their four children and Jobelle lived the rest of her life.

Jobelle was a naturalist, a teacher, and a do-it-yourselfer with an adventurous spirit.  Her focus on nature and the outdoors was a passion. She was an instructor for the U.W. Extension Biology Department and a nature guide at the Madison School Forest.  As a founding member of The Friends of the Madison School Forest, she served on the board and raised funds to purchase more School Forest property.  She especially loved teaching children at the School Forest (and over the decades, their children’s children). For fun and to enhance the educational program at the School Forest, she took up taxidermy (you never knew what critter you might find in an unopened box in the basement). True to her farming heritage, she enjoyed gardening, growing and preserving enough produce to nurture her family throughout the year.  Being adventurous, she foraged for unusual edible plants and explored new ideas for her time, such as making dandelion wine.  She loved to craft, including making Scandinavian straw ornaments for friends and family.   Jobelle and H. L. built a one room cabin near Portage where the family spent weekends enjoying the outdoors. Jobelle, as a naturalist and ecologically minded, beautified the property with native wildflowers. For fun and with sustainability in mind, she planted a pine plantation which also later became a source of Christmas trees for her home and the community.   She was a long-time member of Bethany United Methodist Church. She enjoyed the Madison Civics Club, and she played in two bridge leagues, two golf leagues, and a bowling league well into her 80’s.

Preceded in death by husband H. L. Shands, Jobelle is deeply missed by sons, Allan of Madison, Jay (Holly) of Navarre, Florida, and Severt (Louise) of Springfield, VA; her daughter Jody Shands (Joseph Shebuski) of Plymouth, MN; and her grandsons Andrew (Springfield, VA) and Perry (Knoxville, TN).

A Celebration of Jobelle’s Life will be at 11:00 am Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Bethany United Methodist Church, 3910 Mineral Point Road. A light lunch will follow, where guests may greet the family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Friends of the Madison School Forest, c/o Joe Downs, Treasurer, 1807 Dewberry Dr., Madison, WI 53719:  http://www.friendsofthemadisonschoolforest.org/ or a charity of your choice.

Please share your memories of Jobelle here on her tribute wall.

Cress Center

6021 University Ave. Madison

(608) 238-8406