Anderson, Shawn Alan -- 1985 - 2001

BENDA, ANDERSON, KLIMESH, NICKELS

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 5/28/2007 at 20:51:42

Shawn Anderson

Funeral services for Shawn Anderson were held Sunday, October 6, 2001 at 3:30 p.m. in the Zion Lutheran Church at Castalia, Iowa. The Reverend Dave L. Lenth officiated. Marlys Hager was the organist. Casket bearers were John and Gail Frederick, Bryan Schutte, Andrew Dibble, Matthew Wendel, Adriana McMullan, Sarah Schroeder. Burial was in the Bloomfield Cemetery at Castalia. The Schutte Funeral and Cremation Service of Postville was in charge of arrangements.

Shawn Allan Anderson, the son of Scott Alan Anderson and Janice Ann Benda Anderson, was born February 16, 1985 in Community Memorial Hospital at Postville, Iowa. He died Thursday, October 4, 2001, at the age of 16 years and eight months.

He was baptized August 13, 1989 in the United Methodist Church at Castalia, Iowa, by Pastor Verdon Swenson. Shawn was confirmed May 23, 1999 in the Zion Lutheran Church at Castalia, Iowa by the Reverend Dave L. Lenth.

Shawn was a member of the Junior Class at Postville High School, where he was an honor student. He had been selected to have his name appear in the 2000-2001 edition of "Who's Who Among American High School Students."

Shawn was involved in the Peer Helper program and served on the Student Council for one term. He participated in the Upward Bound Program at Luther College for two years. Shawn read and collected books, especially books of poetry, and also collected baseball cards. He enjoyed listening to classical music, writing in his journal, and working on the computer. Shawn had a special place in his heart for his sister, Sheila, looking after her and being there for her when she needed him.

He is preceded in death by maternal great grandfathers, Elmer Benda and Otto Klimesh, and his paternal great grandparents, Earl and Marie Anderson and George and Bernice Nickels.

Surviving are his parents, Scott and Janice, a sister, Sheila, who is in seventh grade, his paternal grandparents, Jerry and Carol Anderson of Castalia, his maternal grandparents, Roger and Mary Benda of Ft. Atkinson, IA, and his maternal great grandmothers, Luella Benda of Spillville, IA and Irene Klimesh, also of Spillville.

Also surviving are his paternal aunts and uncles, Stacey Anderson and her children, Matthew, Jonathon and Courtney Wendel, of Juneau, Alaska, Lori and Eric Kuehl and children, Sarah, Jacob, Josh, of Elkader, IA; Lisa Anderson of Ossian; JaDene and husband, Hugh Wegner, and their children, Ryan, Kyle, and Jacob, of Juneau, AK; maternal aunts and uncles, Joanie and Julie of Spillville, Joyce of Decorah, Zachary and Desiree, and Jennifer and husband, Billy Frey of Spillville.

The below newspaper article was pasted beside Shawn's obituary in my mother's scrapbook:

CASTALIA TEEN DIES AS A RESULT OF TRAIN-PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT

by Sharon Drahn

Sixteen-year-old Shawn Anderson of Castalia was run over and killed by an I & M Rail Link Train last Thursday. The train struck Anderson on the viaduct over Highway 52 on the west edge of Castalia at approximately 8:30 a.m.

The train, which was pulling 75 cars loaded with grain, was traveling at 25 mph as it entered town. I & M Rail Link superintendent Doug Peck said, "The engineer saw something suspicious on the tracks as he was entering town and immediately put the train into emergency stop."

After locking the brakes, the engine of the train stopped 700 feet east of the viaduct.

The death is under investigation by the Winneshiek County Sheriff's Department, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and Iowa State Patrol.

Anderson, who was a junior at Postville High School, is survived by his parents Scott Anderson and Janice Anderson and a younger sister, Sheila. Shawn's obituary is on page five of today's paper.

Postville Herald-Leader newspaper clippings from my mother's obituary collection. Submitter has no further information.