Joseph “Joe” H. Anderson, 74, of the town of Wayne, entered eternal life on Monday, October 3, 2016, at home surrounded by his loving family.
He was born on March 28, 1942, in Minneota Minnesota, the son of the late Hilmer and Clara (nee Drewicke) Anderson.
Joe attended both St. Edward Grade School and Minneota High School. He attended college at North Dakota State where he played football under a full scholarship and received MVP and was captain. Joe completed his degree in 1964 in mathematics while he also was involved in active ROTC. In 1964 Joe was united in marriage to Anne Ehlis on October 24.
Joe served his country as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army at Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX, during the Vietnam War from 1964 until 1966. Joe continued his military service in the Army Reserves from 1966 until 1971 in Milwaukee and was honorably discharged as a Captain.
Joe worked for A.O. Smith in Milwaukee for 25 years as an IT Specialist for the automotive division. In 1992, he started working for Schwan’s as an IT Specialist in the Information Systems until 2007.
Joe enjoyed training dogs, hunting duck, deer, pheasant, elk, playing gin rummy 500 and working on his hobby farm. The hobby farm activities included woodworking projects, equipment maintenance and meticulous lawn care. Joseph always kept his family involved in constructive activities which built memories that will last a lifetime. Joseph always maintained an organized workshop and household for himself and family members. His ability to lead the family, his love for his wife and his contagious smile will be dearly missed. Words can’t describe the love he showed each and every day.
Those Joe leaves behind to cherish his memory include his loving wife of 52 years, Anne; four daughters, Denise (Quintin) Enders, Mona (Scot) Hodkiewicz, Carla (Scott) Fields and Teresa (Jeremy) Utke; a son, Greg (Kelli Jo) Anderson; 13 grandchildren, Nate Enders, Stephanie (Matt) McGregor, John Enders, Alexa Hodkiewicz, Victoria Hodkiewicz, Chase Hodkiewicz, Tyler Fields, Mason Utke, Archer Utke, Eliza Anderson, Celia Anderson, Lillian Anderson and Karissa Anderson; a great-grandson Marshall McGregor; a sister, Mary Ellen (Gene) Barduson; three brothers, Adrian Anderson, Jerome (Bob) Anderson and Anthony “Tony” (Deb) Anderson, other relatives and many friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Joe will be held at 2:00 p.m. of Friday, October 7, 2016, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 331 Main St. in Kewaskum. Rev. Edwin Kornath will officiate and burial will follow in St. Bridget’s Catholic Church Cemetery.
The Anderson family will greet relatives and friends at the church on Friday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of Mass.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to Holy Trinity Catholic School, 305 Main St. in Kewaskum are preferred. This school helped instill lifelong Christian values in our Anderson family and community.
The Myrhum Patten Miller & Kietzer Funeral Homes have been entrusted with Joe’s arrangements. Additional information and online guestbook may be found at www.myrhum-patten.com.
The Anderson family would like to extend a special thank you to everyone for their prayers and support as well as to Froedtert Hospital and Cedar Hospice for their wonderful care of Joe.