Obituary of Robert Anderson

Robert Anderson, age 89, of Spirit Lake passed away Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at Hilltop Care Center in Spirit Lake. Visitation: Monday, February 11, 2013 after 3 pm with the family present from 5 - 7 pm at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. A Masonic Service will begin at 7 pm on Monday. Service: 10:30 am, Tuesday, February 12, 2013, at Union Memorial Church in Milford Interment: Northlawn Cemetery, Spencer, Iowa Robert A. Anderson was born October 20, 1923 in Des Moines, Iowa to Olive (Pitcher) and Arthur O. Anderson. He received his Bachelor's degree from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. He served his country from February 22, 1943 to November 14, 1945 as the rank of Corporal in the U.S. Army Service Battery 217th Field Artillery Battalion. On September 6, 1946 he married Marjorie "Marge" Ferne Bilsten who died on May 28, 1989. On November 24, 1990 he married Dorothy Palmberg who died on March 4, 2006. Robert co-owned Midstates Builders, Inc. in Spencer, Iowa. He was a life long resident of the Lakes Region except for his time in college and the military. He was a member of the Methodist Church and held memberships in the American Legion (Glen Pedersen Post 1), Veterans of Foreign Wars, Masonic Temple, York Rite, Abu Bekr Shriners, Republican Party of Iowa, National Rifle Association, Dyslexia Society, Phi Delta Theta, and SCORE. His interests included golf, skeet shooting, his daily walks gardening and lawn work. He loved reading, especially Louis L'Amour novels, delivered Meals-On-Wheels and was involved reading to elementary school students. Robert is survived by his daughters, Linda (Bob) Theis from Davenport, Iowa, Susan (Mike) Nissen from Malvern, Arkansas, Janet Kean from Norwalk, Iowa; son, Scott (Jean) Anderson from Fort Thomas, Kentucky; stepson, Dale (Pat) Palmberg from Spirit Lake, Iowa; grandchildren, Nikki Bremer from Fairmont, Minnesota, Bill Krahel from Independence, Kentucky, Thor Theis from Des Moines, Iowa, Blair Joynt from Mena, Arkansas, Ian Theis from Bettendorf, Iowa, Chris Krahel from Peoria, Arizona, Erik Palmberg from Breckenridge, Colorado, Justin Kean from Ankeny, Iowa, Jacob Kean from Norwalk, Iowa, Amber Anderson from Adel, Iowa, Alex Anderson from Johnston, Iowa, Brian and Erik Anderson from Fort Thomas, Kentucky, and eleven great-grandchildren and two younger brothers, Jack Anderson from Phoenix, Arizona and Dale Anderson from Austin, Minnesota. He was preceded in death by his parents, his two wives, sister, Carole Anderson Steinhorst Krumweide, step-daughter, Laurie Palmberg.