Ward Anderson

Ward Kenneth Anderson was born at Isle, Minnesota, April 10, 1925, the son of Eric and Hulda Biostrom Anderson. He was raised in Mille Lacs County, receiving his elementary education in the Eastwood Grade School. He then attended Aitken High School for grades 9, 10, and 11 before graduating from Marshall High School in Minneapolis in 1943. At age 14, Ward accepted Christ as his Savior and was baptized in Mille Lacs Lake in 1939. During World War II, from June of 1944 until receiving his honorable discharge in April of 1946, Ward served his country in the United States Army in Central Europe. Following his discharge Ward returned home to Minnesota where he and his wife Irene were blessed with one daughter, Carolyn. During his early working years he was employed as a mechanic at Isle Motors, was a Greyhound bus driver and as a mechanic at Christenson Motors. In 1963, he began his 23 year Postmaster Career at the Waukon Post Office from which he retired in 1986. Irene died in 1984. On May 24, 1986, Ward was united in marriage with Virginia Crawford Anderson in Kiron, Iowa. They made their home in Kiron, later moving to Denison, Iowa, and enjoyed spending many winters in Arizona. For the past few years Ward and Virginia made their home at the Willow Dale Wellness Center in Battle Creek, Iowa. While residing in Minnesota he was an active member of the Isle Baptist Church where he served as treasurer and was a 15 year member of the Waukon Fire Department. After moving to Iowa he became a member of First Baptist Church in Kiron and was a member of the American Legion Post 383, Kiron, Iowa. In his spare time he enjoyed traveling, spending time with family, solving crossword puzzles and playing games on the computer. Ward died early Friday, July 22, 2011, at the Willow Dale Wellness Center in Battle Creek, Iowa, having been blessed with 86 years, 3 months and 12 days. Including his parents, Eric and Hulda Anderson and his first wife, Irene, Ward was also preceded in death by one granddaughter, Jodie; one brother, Verne and one sister, Grace. Those remaining to cherish his memory include his wife, Virginia Anderson of Battle Creek, Iowa; one daughter, Carolyn and husband, Jerry Lauxman of Alva, Oklahoma; two grandchildren, Brian and Kim; six great grandchildren; one brother, Jim Anderson; two step-sons and their wives, Richard and Catherine Anderson of Denison, Iowa, and Roger and Martha Anderson of Ida Grove, Iowa, five step-grandchildren, Clifton, Timothy, Travis, Russell and Ronnie; 10 step-great grandchildren, other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, July 25, 2011, at First Baptist Church, Kiron, Iowa, with Pastor Bruce Kaihoi officiating. Music for the service was provided by soloist, Sue Kaihoi singing “Children of the Heavenly Father” and the congregation singing “How Great Thou Art” and “He Hideth My Soul”, with Mrs. John W. Larson serving as pianist. Following the services the family invited everyone to join them in the church basement for fellowship and refreshments prepared and served by the First Baptist Church Social Committee. Graveside services and interment, with Pastor Perry Johnson officiating and Military Honors provided by the Isle, Minnesota, American Legion Post, were held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, July 28, 2011, at the Opstead Baptist Cemetery in Isle, Minnesota. The Pfannebecker Funeral Home, www.pfannebecker.com , Denison, Iowa, was in charge of arrangements.