James Anderson
1932 - 2019
Obituary
James "Jim" Cleo Anderson, of
Bethesda Home, Goessel, passed away on Friday (March 1, 2019). He was
born Aug. 30, 1932, in Cleburne, the son of Fred Niels and Alta Mae
(Vernson) Anderson. He was an only child.
Jim was preceded in death by his wife,
Jackie, on Aug. 14, 2017. Jim and Jackie met during their junior year
in high school. They were married on Sept. 6, 1953, and made their
home in Cleburne. Jim began college at Kansas State University in
1950, where he pursued a double major of Animal Husbandry and
Agronomy. He was a member of the Air Force ROTC during school as well
as the KSU Marching Band.
In 1953, Jim quit school in
anticipation of being called to military duty. He worked on the farm
with his father as he waited to be drafted, but he never was. He
returned to school and graduated in 1956. While in school this time,
Jim enjoyed being a member of the livestock judging team under the
mentorship of Dr. Don Good. This was such an important part of his
life that he almost (but not quite) agreed to go to New York with Dr.
Good on a judging trip the week before his wedding. Military service
was also important to Jim, and he signed up and served in the
National Guard from 1957-1962.
In 1960, the arrival of Tuttle Creek
Dam forced the residents of Cleburne to leave their homes, as the
town would be under water once the dam was constructed. Jim and
Jackie moved north of Olsburg, where they farmed with Jim's parents
and, later, Jim's son, Larry, for 47 years. Jim loved farming –
both working the land and working with cattle. He had a deep
appreciation for nature and all of God's creation, and he was a
faithful steward of his land and livestock.
In 2007, due to Jackie's health, Jim
and Jackie retired off the farm and moved to Hesston. They enjoyed
their time in Hesston and their involvement with the Methodist church
and the Hesston Area Senior Center. Jim volunteered as both a
crossing guard and a delivery person for Meals on Wheels. He and
Jackie both loved music and loved to play cards. There was always
singing and/or a game of pitch on hand whenever any of their children
or grandchildren would visit. Jim was enormously proud of both of his
children and his four grandchildren. After Jackie's death in 2017,
Jim could never quite get his footing again and his health began to
decline without the love of his life to care for. Jim moved into
Bethesda Home three months prior to a peaceful passing in his sleep.
Survivors include two children, Larry
(Kim) Anderson of Olsburg and Patty (Shane) Meier of Newton; four
grandchildren: Mark Meier of Kansas City, Alex Meier of Lawrence,
Bobbi Anderson of Manhattan and Jessy Poetzsch of Germany.
He was preceded in death by his
parents.
A memorial service will be held at 11
a.m. Thursday (March 7, 2019) at the American Legion in Olsburg, with
lunch following.
Memorial contributions may be made to
LMIC Don Good Excellence in Agriculture Fund in care of Petersen
Funeral Home, 215 N. Main, Newton, KS 67114.
Petersenfamilyfuneralhome.com.
