HILBERT "Andy" EMIL ANDERSON 1917-1994

OLAFSSON, ANDERSON, ZUMMAK, BORLAND, OVEREEN, SOLOMON, DAY

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/6/2005 at 07:38:06

HILBERT "Andy" EMIL ANDERSON 1917-1994

Hilbert "Andy" Emil Anderson, son of Emil and Hilda (Olafsson) Anderson, was born July 12, 1917, at Oelwein, Iowa. He passed away Friday, May 27, 1994, at the Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital, Decorah, Iowa.

He was baptized at the First Christian Church, Oelwein, and attended Sunday School and church there during his youth. He attended the Oelwein Public Schools, and was a graduate of Oelwein High School.

"Andy" worked for Ritchie Clothing in Oelwein, during his high school days and the J. C. Penney Company in Oelwein and in Hammond, Indiana, after graduation.

He entered the United States Army on January 14, 1941. During World War II he participated in the Sicily Campaign, the Tunisia Campaign, and the Rome-Arno (Italian) Campaign, and was wounded three times in combat. He was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with four major engagement stars, the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Army Good Conduct Medal with clasp. Other domestic awards included the American Defense Service medal, the American Theater Ribbon, and the World War II Victory Medal. He also earned the Croix de Guerre with palm unit citation, the French Expeditionary Forces (Italy) Medal, the French Liberation Medal, and the French War Medal, all decorations by the government of the Republic of France. He was discharged form the Army on June 17, 1948, as a Staff Sergeant with the 91st Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.

On July 11, 1948, he was married to Wilma Zummak at Zion Lutheran Church in Oelwein, Iowa. To this union two children were born -- a son and a daughter.

In 1949 he opened Anderson's Clothing, a retail men's clothing store in Postville, Iowa, which he owned and operated until his retirement in 1978.

"Andy" was vitally interested in the young people of Postville, and over the years, hired fifteen young people as clerks in his clothing business. Of those fifteen, all continued their education at college except one. He had an active interest in the athletics of the Postville Schools, and enjoyed attending football games. He also enjoyed fishing and card-playing with his many long-time friends. He served as President of the Iowa Retail Clothiers Association in 1966, and continued to serve on their Executive Committee until 1978.

His parents were natives of Sweden, and he was very proud of his Swedish heritage. He kept in touch with relatives in Sweden, and made several trips to visit them over the years.

"Andy" often spoke of celebrating a "three-day holiday" each year -- he was wounded the third time on July 10th, married on July 11th, and had a birthday on July 12th.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, John; and two sisters, Ruth, who died in infancy, and Christine (Mrs. Howard Borland).

He is survived by his wife, Wilma, of Postville, a son, Alan, and his wife, Ann, of Shoreview, MN; a daughter, Audrey, of St. Paul, MN; a brother, Robert of Oelwein, IA; three sisters, Ann (Mrs. Harry Overeen) of Postville, Ellen (Mrs. Marvin Solomon) of Alexandria, VA, Esther (Mrs. Alfred Day) of Moline, Il; a sister-in-law, Gwen Anderson of Burke Center, VA; several nieces and nephews, and many other relatives and friends.

Interment with military honors will be at Woodlawn Cemetery in Oelwein, Iowa.

Funeral hand-out, Schutte Funeral Service, Postville

- contributed by Sharyl Ferrall