Anderson, Kenneth Weston

Kenneth Weston Anderson entered eternal rest on Sept. 21, 2011. Services: 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at Seals Campbell Funeral Home, Marseilles, Ill. Visitation: 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, at the funeral home. Burial: Section Cemetery, Marseilles. Local arrangements by Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids.

Ken was born Nov. 21, 1919, at his parents' home in rural Seneca, Ill. He grew up at a time when he rode his pony to a one room school and planted and harvested the crops by hand. Ken was a hard worker and in his spare time liked to play sports. He attended Seneca Township High School and headed for Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa. There he played on the college basketball team. After receiving his two-year degree, he headed to Iowa State College, where he also played basketball and studied animal husbandry. The war caused him to be called back to the farm to help his father with spring planting in 1942.

On March 18, 1943, Ken married Mavis Arlene Foreman. They farmed the family farm near Seneca until moving to Iowa in the fall of 1997. Together, Ken and Mavis raised six children. Ken was active in the community, such as being supervisor for Miller Township, a bus driver for Milton Pope School and served on the Milton Pope school board for 35 years. He played on the 35'ers Softball Team for LaSalle County for several years, winning two state championships. Ken enjoyed playing golf, bowling and basketball. He even played power volleyball at the YMCA in Ottawa, Ill., until the age of 75.

Ken is survived by Mavis, his loving and devoted wife of 68 years. He is also survived by his daughter, June (Jeff) Fleming of Olney, Ill.; his sons, Dr. Kenneth Wayne (Kathy) Anderson of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Randy (Debbie) Anderson of Seabrook, Texas, and Rodney Anderson of Chicago; and daughter, Joan (Ron) Franck of Newhall, Iowa; 15 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Ken was preceded in death by his son, Wesley Keith Anderson; his parents, Elmer and Belle Anderson; sisters, Alta and Ada Anderson and Blanche Eike; and brothers, Elbert, Silas and Lloyd.

Memorials may be made in Ken's memory to St. Luke's Hospice, 290 Blairsferry Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 or the ALS Association, 1275 K St. N.W., Suite 1050, Washington, D.C. 20005.

Please sign the online guest book for Ken at   under obituaries.

Published Sept. 24, 2011, in The Gazette