On July 21, 2026, after a difficult battle with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, we lost our beloved Lori Ann Moehnke Anderson. Lori was born on May 18, 1964, in Eureka to parents Donald and Dian Moehnke. Following in her parents’ footsteps, she soon showed great musical talent and started playing Suzuki method violin at five years of age. Lori’s passion for playing the violin continued her entire life. 

Lori attended Cutten Elementary School, Winship Junior High School and graduated as a valedictorian from Eureka Senior High School in 1982. Attending University of Southern California with a music scholarship, Lori went on to participate in a variety of musical adventures! She played violin with the USC Thornton School Of Music Symphony Orchestra and performed with the USC Marching Band as a mellophone player for two years, which enabled her to travel for special events and away-games, including the Orange Bowl in Florida and the Mirage Bowl in Japan. She received her music education teaching credential in 1987 and began her teaching career in Visalia, Calif.

As a music educator, Lori taught string instruments to elementary, middle, and high school students. She taught for the Visalia Unified School District for nearly 30 years and also participated in many local musical activities. She enjoyed playing in chamber music groups, musical theater performances, taught private violin and viola students, and was concertmaster for the Tulare County Symphony (Sequoia Symphony) from 1990 to 2010. During Lori’s time living in Visalia, she was also a member of the Kaweah String Quartet, which performed for countless weddings and other events through the years. Lori loved to sing and play the piano, and in later years enjoyed taking art and dance classes. She especially liked playing in pit orchestras for musical theater performances, and her favorite to play for was The Secret Garden. She considered it a treat when given the opportunity to play with an orchestra accompanying a touring artist, including Smokey Robinson and Natalie Cole.

Upon retirement, Lori moved back to Eureka to be with family and continue to enjoy her lifelong passion of playing music. She loved performing with the Eureka Symphony, the All Season’s Orchestra and in string quartets and other local ensembles. When she wasn’t performing, she was attending and supporting the numerous arts programs that Humboldt County has to offer.

Lori had a great love and appreciation for wildlife and pets throughout her life, especially her golden retriever Cami and her kitties, Lucy and spicy Isabella. As a child, she loved spending summers on Shasta Lake with her Moehnke grandparents and at “The Ranch” and Desert Hot Springs with her Arvidson grandparents. She enjoyed traveling to Yellowstone, Yosemite, Alaska, Hawaii, the Grand Canyon, The Azores, England and Ireland, among other places. Lori also loved vacationing on the Oregon Coast with her sisters and nephews, as well as going to Southern California with Shari to spend time with Aunty Susie. Susie visits were always packed with fun adventures; One of the most notorious was the exciting Newport Beach whale watching tour, where, after being surrounded by an incredible megapod of porpoises feeding on albacore, the boat stopped and drifted for what seemed like hours, finally being towed back to shore, because it had run out of gas! Some of Lori’s favorite visits included getting to see the touring productions of Hamilton and Waitress, as well as exploring the Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens, and touring The Queen Mary. The occasional trip to Disneyland was also definitely a highlight.

Lori is survived by her dear aunt, Susan A. Moehnke; brother, William D. Moehnke; sisters Shari L. Moehnke and Michelle D. (Moehnke) Gibbons (Freeman); nephews Michael W. Moehnke, Paul Z. T. Gibbons, and Freeman James Gibbons; and cousin, David Miller, as well as numerous other relatives.

Lori is preceded in death by her parents, Donald D. and Dian L. (Arvidson) Moehnke; maternal grandparents, Paul and Pearl Arvidson; paternal grandparents, Laverne “Mike” and Ann Moehnke; and cousin, Matthew Miller. 

Lori’s family would like to thank Janet Grizzell, Elizabeth Morrison, and Julie Fulkerson, among so many others, for their love and support of music and friendship in Lori’s life. We are grateful for the wonderful care that Lori received from the entire team at Timber Ridge Renaissance in Eureka, as well as the indispensable support from Hospice of Humboldt, with a special acknowledgement going to Katie and Scotty for their particular kind and caring attention. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial contribution to: your local school’s music program; Hospice of Humboldt; or the Alzheimer’s Association. The family will gather for a private memorial service at a later date. 

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Lori Anderson’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.