Harlan Elmer ANDERSON

ANDERSON, HARBERTS, FOSS, DUNBAR, EDDY, SMITH, DONNELLY, HUSTRULID, WILHEM, FERDIN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 5/2/2009 at 11:35:43

November 26, 2003

Former Hancock County resident, Harlan Elmer Anderson, of Alexander, died on Sunday, November 23, 2003, at his home, following a battle with cancer. He was 69. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, November 25, at the Alexander United Methodist Church in Alexander. The Rev. Tony Hershey officiated. Burial with full military honors, rendered by the Belmond and Goodell funeral squads, was in the Amsterdam Cemetery, Goodell. The Tenold-Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond, was in charge of the arrangements.

Harlan Anderson, was born on November 18, 1934, on his parent's farm near Goodell in Hancock County. He was the son of Elmer and Esther (Harberts) Anderson. He served in the United States Armed Forces and the U.S. Army Reserve from November of 1957 until his honorable discharge as a private first class in January 1963. Harlan Anderson, married Loretta Jane Foss on November 18, 1961 at Miami, Oklahoma. The couple had two daughters, Brenda and Beth, and a son, Brian who died at the age of 2. Harlan worked as a laborer for most of his career. In early years, he farmed with his parents on the family farm. He later did custom combining and corn shelling throughout the area and in other states. He was employed with Westaby Trucking for 11 years and worked for the DOT for seven and a half years, before injuries sustained in an accident forced his retirement in 1984. He served on the Alexander City Council for a number of years. He was a member of the Alexander Fire Department for more than 20 years and served as a trustee for the department. He could often be found doing maintenance work and making sure that all the department's equipment and facilities were functioning properly. Harlan enjoyed visiting family and friends. He and Loretta enjoyed dancing in earlier years and later on they looked forward to winter trips to Branson. He looked forward to many camping excursions with family and friends. He enjoyed gardening, attending the Antique Tractor and Power Show north of Belmond and his antique John Deere tractors and mowers.

Survivors include his wife, Loretta J. Anderson of Alexander; daughters, Brenda Dunbar and husband, Bill of Plymouth and Beth Eddy and husband, Mike of Coulter; sisters, Ruby Smith of Mason City, Ila Mae Donnelly and husband, David of Arvada, Colorado; brother, Harry Anderson and wife, Anne Hustrulid of Garner; sister, Leila Wilhem and husband, Keith of Phoenix, Arizona; brother, Harley Anderson of Colorado Springs, Colorado; grandchildren, Kellie Ferdin of Mason City, Kory Ferdin and Travis Dunbar both of Plymouth and Matthew and Brielle Eddy of Coulter; his mother-in-law, Johanna Foss of Alexander and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Brian in 1966; sister, Elaine; brother, Howard; and father-in-law, Roy C. Foss.

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