Arlan Eugene ANDERSON

ANDERSON, SEVERSON, MICKELSON, RATZKE, KABRICK, OSBY, HEGG

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 4/17/2012 at 19:36:49

April 16, 1936 -- April 12, 2012

KANAWHA, IA - Arlan Eugene Anderson, 75, of Kanawha, passed away from complications due to stroke on Thursday evening, April 12, 2012, at the Muse-Norris Inpatient Unit at Hospice of North Iowa in Mason City surrounded by his family. In keeping with Arlan's wishes, there will be no funeral and his body has been cremated. His family will be receiving family and friends at a Celebration of Life luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Arlie's birthday, Monday, today, April 16, at Kanawha Lutheran Church.

Arlan was born on April 16, 1936, to Ardo "Buzzy" and Frances (Severson) Anderson in Kanawha. Arlan, a life-long resident of Kanawha, was educated in the Kanawha schools, graduating from high school in 1954. He married his best friend Sharon Mickelson, on Feb. 18, 1968, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Belmond. They made their home in Arlie's childhood home where they raised their three children. There weren't many activities Sharon and Arlie didn't do together. They were constant companions to each other. After high school, Arlie joined his father in the corn shelling business. After Buzzy's retirement, Arlie and his brother Larry purchased the business that would become known as Anderson Brothers Trucking and Shelling. Later, the two would farm together until Arlie's retirement in 1999. After his retirement from farming, Arlie remained very active restoring antique vehicles and worked up until the day he had his stroke.

A man of faith, Arlie was a baptized and confirmed member of Kanawha Lutheran Church where he served in many different positions on the church council and enjoyed singing in the church choir. He was very active in the community, as well. He participated in league bowling for many years. He served on the Farmer's Elevator/North Central Co-op board for many years and also on the Kanawha Community Home board. Arlie helped to bring back the Show in the Shade car show held on Labor Day in Kanawha. Many people knew Arlie as a respected farmer, businessman and friend. There wasn't much Arlie couldn't do. He was an accomplished farmer, carpenter, and mechanic and was very skilled in car restoration. Anything he set his mind to, he could accomplish. Arlie had many interests and hobbies. For many years, he excelled at showing quarter horses at horse shows all throughout north Iowa. He and Sharon enjoyed country dancing with their friends and they even appeared on TNN's "Wildhorse Café" with their dance club, Doc's Dancers. Out of all of his interests, he had a true passion for car restoration. He was especially proud of his achievements in restoring, with assistance from his son Jon, his 1964 Pontiac Bonneville convertible, his 1964 Pontiac Bonneville hardtop and his black beauty and the pride of his fleet, the 1955 Pontiac Star Chief. He enjoyed taking his cars to car shows, where he found much success and proudly came home with many trophies. He could talk endlessly about cars and was as interested in other people's projects as much as his own.

In addition to his wife Sharon, Arlan is survived by daughter, Lori Ratzke and husband Rick of Dows, son Andrew Anderson and wife Amy of Reinbeck, and son Jonathan Anderson of Reinbeck; grandchildren, Jacob, Taylor and Ethan Ratzke, Zachary Anderson and Cassie Kabrick; two great-grandchildren, Tatum Kabrick and Aliyah Anderson; his sisters, Lucille Osby of Kanawha, Barbara (Bob) Hegg of Windsor, Colo.; his brothers, Dean (Daphne) Anderson of Huxley and Larry (Darlene) Anderson of Kanawha and several nieces and nephews. Arlan was preceded in death by his parents. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to Hospice of North Iowa.

Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa
April 16, 2012