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W. B. Anderson 1896-1974

ANDERSON, MADESEN, BAILEY, ERVIN

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 4/14/2017 at 09:47:26

10 October 1974 - The Tipton Conservative

Last rites for W. B. Anderson, 78, were held in the West Branch Methodist church Oct. 9 with the Rev. Max E. Paige and the Rev. LeRoy Baumann in charge. Burial was in the West Branch cemetery.

Mr. Anderson died at his home Oct. 4 while watching television.

The son of Peter and Jesena Madesen Anderson, he was born on a farm near West Branch, Jan. 20, 1896. He graduated from West Branch high school and Cedar Rapids Business college. In 1916 he started a hardware and furniture store in West Branch. He was married to Dorothy Bailey at Barnesville, Ohio, Oct. 14, 1920.

During World War I he served in the army signal corps for 2 years, including service in the Philippines, resuming his business after leaving the army. In 1922, after he completed mortuary school, established a funeral home in West Branch. He retired in 1958.

Mr. Anderson served as mayor of West Branch for 6 years and was a member of the city council for 10 years. He was active in the Republican party, serving as Cedar county chairman for 8 years. He attended the 1928 Repbulcian national convention when Hoover was nominated for President. He was a delegate in the 1946 national convention.

During World War II he was chairman of the Cedar county rationing board.

He was also on the board of the United Methodist church in West Branch, and held several posts with the Boy Scouts, on the regional and national level. He was presented the Silver Beaver, highest award of the Council level in Scouting.

Mr. Anderson was also a life member of the Iowa Historical society, a member of the West Branch Heritage Foundation, Cedar County Historical society, the Masonic lodge, Eastern Star, Army Consistory, Shrine, Lions club, American Legion, the West Branch Commercial club and other community organizations.

It was his association with President Herbert Hoover and his role in the development of the Herbert Hoover Library association and presidential library at West Branch that brought him into close association with many of the nation's leaders.

Mr. Anderson was president emeritus of the Hoover Presidential Library association and the Herbert Hoover Birthplace foundation. He had been president of both organizations. He was instrumental in the founding of these groups to finance the purchase of land that now makes up the Herbert Hoover birthplace park. In the park are the Presidential library and the graves of President and Mrs. Hoover.

He played a major role in the birthday visits of President Hoover to West Branch between 1948 and 1962 when both President Hoover and President Truman were present to dedicate the new library. Mr. Anderson helped arrange the Hoover Birthday Centennial Aug. 10.

He is survived by his wife, 2 sons, Robert B., Marshalltown and Capt. William B., San Diego, Calif.; 6 grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Earl (Mildred) Ervin, Vinton and a brother, Harley, West Branch. He was preceded in death by a sister and 3 brothers.


 

Cedar Obituaries maintained by Lynn McCleary.
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