William Orlando Anderson 1914-1996

ANDERSON, SUNDE, REID, KEVER, LEE

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 7/6/2012 at 22:08:52

William Anderson
Estherville – William Orlando Anderson, 81, of Estherville died on Saturday, April 20, 1996 at Rosewood Manor in Estherville.

He was born on September 10, 1914, the son of Orlando Logan and Violette (Reid) Anderson in Gruver. When he was a sophomore in high school, the family moved to Estherville, where he graduated in 1931. He attended the local junior college while working as a reporter for the Estherville Daily News. He finished his education at the University of Iowa where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1938 and a Juris Doctor Degree from the University Law School in 1940. During that time, he became a member of Sigma Chi social fraternity and Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity.

Upon returning to Estherville, he married Irene Sunde on July 12, 1942 and entered the practice of law with Judge N. J. Lee. In the same year he entered the War Training Service Civilian Pilot Training Program, completed the course with an instructor’s and commercial pilot’s license and served as an instructor with the training service until it was terminated in 1943. In 1944, he was called to active duty in the Army Air Force, attended the Judge Advocate General’s School and was assigned to headquarters of the Military Justice Branch, where he became assistant chief and First Lieutenant.

Upon his discharge in 1945 he returned to Estherville, opened his own law office and served two terms as county attorney. As attorney for the DEK rural electric association, he received recognition in 1973 for 25 years of service and completed 38 years in that capacity. While president of the attorney’s section of the Iowa REA, he prepared a draft concerning a revision of the Iowa law for a merger and consolidation of cooperatives which was adopted by the entire committee, later passed by the legislature, and now appears as sections 499.61 to 499.1 code of Iowa 1975.

In 1960, Max O. Pelzer became a partner in his law firm as did James D. Hart in 1976. Anderson was president of the Emmet County Bar Association from 1974to 1976. He retired from his law practice in 1990.

A long-time member of the Estherville Golf and Country Club, he served as an officer and helped establish the Estherville Realty Board. Other community interests were the Iowa Lakes Community College Board of Trustees where he was a member for several years and Rotary Club which he joined in 1940 and served as president at one time.

Appointed to the Estherville Airport Commission soon after his discharge from the Armed Forces, he was a member for 30 years and its chairman for part of that time. He also was a member of the board of the Good Samaritan Center.

As a founder of the Emmet County chapter of the Estherville Izaak Walton League, he was interested in hunting and fishing and conservation. He sold land with native grasses and flowers to the State of Iowa, which now is known as “Anderson Prairie.” His latest project was planting 2,000 trees in the wetlands established in 1990 around his home, for which he and his son Eric received the 1992 Windbreak/Shelterbelt Award.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and enjoyed driving young people on their church-sponsored and Boy Scout camping trips.

He is survived by his wife, Irene; son Stephen and his two daughters, Sara and Amanda of Denver; son Eric and his wife Patricia of Spirit Lake and his daughter Kristin of Perth, Australia; one daughter, Mrs. Andy (Sonja) Kever and their daughters Ashley and Jenna of Austin, Texas; one sister, Mrs. Deemer (Everyld) Lee of Estherville; and two nephews Robert and William Lee.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Mr. Anderson requested cremation, no formal service nor flowers. He named Good Samaritan Center, Rosewood Manor and ECHO as his favorite recipients of memorials.

Henry-Olson-Fuhrman Funeral Home of Estherville is in charge of local arrangements. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, April 22, 1996)