Andersen, Russell M. 1923-2013

ANDERSEN, KLOSTER, NAGY

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 7/23/2013 at 08:28:19

PAULLINA, Iowa | Russell M. "Russ" Andersen, 90, of Paullina passed away Tuesday, June 4, 2013, at Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley, Iowa.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at Siloam Lutheran Church in Paullina, with the Rev. Elizabeth Pfeifle officiating. Burial will be in Resthaven Memory Gardens in Le Mars, Iowa. Visitation will be after 2 p.m. Sunday, with the family present after 3 p.m. and a prayer service at 5:30 p.m., at Eldridge Family Funeral Home in Paullina.

Russell Melvin Andersen, was born on March 21, 1923, the son of Ole D. and Charlotte (Kloster) Andersen. He was baptized in a Danish Lutheran Church in Fredonia Township that was built by his grandfather, Thorvald Kloster. He graduated in 1940 from Le Mars Community High School. In 1940, he wanted to join the U.S. Navy but was too young. On Jan. 13, 1941, his parents signed for him to enlist. He served in the submarine division of the U.S. Navy.

He was united in marriage to Mary Nagy on June 1, 1946, in New York City. The couple moved to Paullina, where Russell owned and operated Andersen Body Shop for many years.

He was a member of the Siloam Lutheran Church in Paullina. He enjoyed golf, cards, telling jokes, wintering in Alamo Palms, Texas, and attending Veterans of World War II Submarine Conventions. He was a resident of the Community Health Center in Hartley, Iowa, where he passed away on Tuesday, June 4, 2013, reaching the age of 90 years, 2 months and 13 days.

Russ is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mary; three daughters, Donna Mayes of Round Rock, Texas, Nancy (Ken) Penning of Hospers, Iowa, and Sandy (Gary) Launderville of Alta, Iowa; 17 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; his siblings, Bob Andersen and his wife, Darlene of Sioux City, Florence Grosenheider and Estella Herman, both of Le Mars, and Richard Andersen and his wife, Ginger of Burnsville, Minn.; a brother-in-law, Gordon Criswell and his wife, Shirley of Le Mars; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his siblings, Marlene Criswell, Hazel Johnson, Helen Harms, Ronald and Jerry Andersen; brothers-in-law, Virgil Johnson, Willard Herman and Bill Grosenheider; and a sister-in-law, Geraldine Andersen.