Walter Anderson (-2010)

ANDERSON, NELSON, MENDT, CHARMICHAELHASELHOFF, QUINN, BAKKER, BOWEN, SANHOEFNER, BENEFIEL

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 8/31/2010 at 09:38:54

The Story City Herald, Story City, Story County, Iowa, Wednesday, August 4, 2010.

Walter Anderson, age 94, of Cleghorn, Iowa passed away Tuesday, July 27, 2010, at his home near Cleghorn.

Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, July 29, 2010, at Greenwood Funeral Home in Cherokee. Father Gene Sitzmann officiated. Burial was held at 4:00 p.m. Thursday afternoon at Mackey Methodist Church in Boone County, Iowa. Visitation began at Noon on Wednesday, with the family present from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Wednesday evening at Greenwood Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Cherokee Hospice 1000 S. 2nd St. Cherokee, IA, 51012. Online condolences may be sent to the web address www.greenwoodfuneral.com.

Walter Carl Anderson, the son of Swedish immigrants, Axel and Betty (Forsberg) Anderson, was born November 16, 1915, in Boone County, Iowa. His childhood years were spent in Boone County where he received his education.

With the onset of the depression era, Walt was forced to cease his formal education and go to work in an effort to make a living and help put food on the table. He soon became well known throughout the county for his prowess as a corn picker and other achievements in the farming industry. Eventually, he saved enough money to purchase a little farm of his own after the war.

On January 3, 1949, Walt was united in marriage to May Nelson. May joined him on his farm along with her three sons: Vernon, Richard, and Jerry. They were soon blessed with two sons; Mark and Dale. With the help of May and his sons Mark and Dale, Walt expanded his farming operation. One of the acreages had the little yellow house, which served as Walt and May's retirement home, where they spent many wonderful years together. In May of 1995, May passed away. Five years later, fortune smiled on Walt when he married Ms. Helen Mendt. What a happy union this became! Upon marriage to Helen, they took residence near Cleghorn, Iowa, enjoying all their children and doing so many things together.

Walter was a member of Mackey Methodist Church, Kohinoor Lodge #576 AF&AM (P.M.) in Story City, Mirza Lodge #609 AF&AM (P.M.} in-Pilot Mound, IA, the Des Moines Scottish Rite Consistory, and Fez-B Shrine Club in Pilot Mound, Iowa.

Walter was preceded in death by his wife, May Anderson; parents, Axel and Betty Anderson; brothers and sisters; two stepsons, Vernon and Jerry Charmichael, and one grandson, Tyler Anderson.

He is survived by his wife, Helen Anderson; Walter's children: step-son, Richard (Mary) Charmichael, son, Mark (Heidi) Anderson, and son, Dale (Kay) Anderson; Helen's children: Cynthia (Robert) Haselhoff, Patricia (Jim) Quinn, Susan (Michael) Bakker, Marilyn Trout, Maria (Jeff) Bowen, Guy (Kathy) Mendt, Heidi (Mark) Anderson, Bernadette (Michael) Sandhoefner, Denise Mendt, and Laura (Ronald) Benefiel; 12 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.