Robert Anderson

Robert J. Anderson, 96, of Waukon, IA, died Wednesday, April 1, 2020, at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. A private graveside service was held at Old West Paint Creek Cemetery in rural Waukon. Memorial services will be Saturday, September 4, 2021, at 12:30 PM at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon. Friends may greet the family one hour before services Saturday at church. Military honors will be at Old West Paint Creek Cemetery in rural Waukon, where burial was previously held. If you are comfortable wearing a mask, please do so. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements. Memorials may be given to St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon, the Allamakee Food Shelf, or any charity of choice. Condolences can be sent to Agnes Anderson at 110 12th Avenue NW, Waukon, IA 52172.

Robert John Anderson was born August 23, 1923, in Allamakee County, IA, to Clifford and Cora (Olander) Anderson. They lived in Center Township, where his father farmed and they attended Center Baptist Church. Bob completed his first eight years of education at the Elon School and graduated from Waukon High School in 1942. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on May 23, 1945, and served on a floating dry dock in the Pacific Theater, where he attained the grade of Electrician Mate 3rd Class, and was given an honorable discharge on July 18, 1946.

While attending high school, he lived on West Main Street in Waukon across from a beautiful young lady named Agnes Johnson. Bob and Agnes were married on August 11, 1946, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon. She was the love of his life!

RJ served six years on the Waukon City Council, was a lineman for the Paint Creek Telephone Company, and also was a petroleum salesman for Farm Service. He was a city farmer for many years. Bob was a trustee and on the trust fund committee at St. John's Lutheran Church, where he and Agnes attended. He played on the Kriete baseball team, enjoyed golf, bowled on the town traveling team and for the Skelly team, and was a charter member of the Allamakee Antique Car Club.

Bob became partners with Donald and Ralph Sweeney and formed the Home Oil Company in 1958. The customers' children loved to see him come because they knew he had candy for them.

Bob and his dad started developing an acreage in Village Creek in 1968, known as Swede Bottom. This became a special place for family and friends. His grandchildren loved going for rides in the gas truck and just spending time with Grandpa at Swede Bottom, even though when playing ball together he claimed, "they swung like a rusty gate!" Up until 91 years of age, Bob spent many hours mowing.

RJ believed in having a good time! Bob and Agnes traveled with good friends to the Bahamas and many Iowa Hawkeye games. They enjoyed traveling to see his brother Jim and friends in Arizona, trips to Michigan, Maine, and Montana to visit his son. Other special trips included taking all of their family to Disney World to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary and taking an Honor Flight with his grandson to the WWII Memorial in Washington D.C. Many memories and tall tales were made deer hunting and fishing over 55 years with great friends. He always had a good joke for everyone he met. Bob was an Iowa Hawkeye fan and a true blue Chicago Cubs fan and was very thankful he got to see them win the World Series.

He is survived by his wife Agnes of 73 ½ years of Waukon; his three children: Linda (Dean) Krambeer of Pine Island, MN, Larry (Maggie) Anderson of Brainerd, MN, and Lori (Randy) Hesse of Waukon; eight grandchildren: Cori (Kevin) Arce, Dena (Bob) Weinmann, Tom (Kelsey) Krambeer, Russ (Elsa) Anderson, Josh (Jessica) Anderson, Zach (Alissa) Anderson, Heath (Jill) Hesse, and Heidi (Chris) Goetzinger; 19 great-grandchildren: Amelia and Max Arce, Theo and Mabel Krambeer, Kathryn, Willa, Milo, and Josetta Anderson, Ari and Luna Anderson, Henley, Thea, Solveig, and Sloane Anderson, Sid, Veda, and Lennon Hesse, and Grady, Sawyer, and Archer Goetzinger; and his brother Bill Anderson.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents and brother James.

Honorary casketbearers are his grandchildren.