John A. Anderson

JOHN A. ANDERSON , age 85 of Waseca, died on Friday, July 26, 2013 at Lakeshore Inn in Waseca.

Born in Milwaukee, WI on January 22, 1928, John was the son of John Adolph Anderson and Anna (Frisch) Anderson. He was raised by his maternal grandparents on their farm in Grove Lake, Minnesota and attended school in Padua and Glenwood. He began his adult life at age 16 when he moved to Minneapolis to find employment after both of his grandparents passed away. John worked for a time at Bridgeman's and at age 17 enlisted in the Marine Corps. This was near the end of World War II, and John was stationed in China, finishing high school when he returned to the States. From December 1950-December 1951, he served in the Korean War. When he returned, he worked as a Marine recruiter in Milwaukee where he met Doris Hepburn. They were married at Prairie Farm, WI on August 30, 1952. John later attended Brown Institute in Minneapolis to earn a degree in accounting. John spent a total of 13 1/2 years in the Marine Corps and Marine Reserve. He worked as an accountant for Land O' Lakes in various communities including Minneapolis, and Lakefield before moving to Waseca in 1968. He continued on with the company in New Richland until 1975 (after 22 years with the company) when he began working for Dean's Specialty in Waseca as their accountant. Soon thereafter, he and a partner bought the business and renamed it J & R Specialty. He continued his career there until his retirement. John enjoyed camping, canoeing, fishing, bowling, and gardening. He was a member of the Waseca VFW, the VFW Honor Guard (having attended over 300 veterans' funerals) and the Mankato branch of the Marine Corps League. He was a life member and past Vice President of the Minnesota Chapter of the First Marine Division Association. He was also a devoted member of St. John Lutheran Church-ELCA, where he served 11 years as treasurer and financial secretary, youth league advisor, Sunday bus host, usher, and at the age of 71, became a guide and mentor for the seventh and eighth grade confirmation class.

John is survived by his wife, Doris of Waseca; two children, Mark (Joni) Anderson of Council Bluffs, IA, and Karen (Mark) Byron of Waseca; five grandchildren, Meghan (Mikel) Finch of Sioux Falls; Meredith (A.J.) Menden of Brandon, S.D.; Erica (Austin) Brockmeier of Liverpool, England; Carrie (Jett Hitt) Byron of Gardiner, MT; and Andrew Byron of Corvallis, OR; five great-grandchildren; Taeya, Sophia, Juliet, Leo and Tierney. He was preceded in death by the grandparents who raised him, Herman and Theresa (Oelwein) Frisch, and his parents.

Dennis Funeral and Cremation Services were in charge of arrangements. Funeral services were held on July 29, 2013 at St. John Lutheran in Waseca, MN. Burial was in Woodville Cemetery, Waseca, MN.