Dr. Kenneth Andersen

DR. KENNETH ANDERSEN

Center Point

Dr. Kenneth N. Andersen, 90, of Center Point, Iowa, died Friday, May 22, 2015, at Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids, from heart complications. Per Dr. Andersen's wishes, cremation will take place. Memorial services are planned for June, and the place, date and time will be published in the paper when that time approaches. Burial: Center Point Cemetery, Center Point, Iowa. Arrangements by Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Center Point, Iowa.

Survivors include his wife, Marilyn of Center Point, Iowa; children, Holly Andersen and her husband, Pat Grady, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Christa Andersen and her husband, Terry Potter, of Ames, Iowa, Dr. Philip (DeEtta) Andersen of Center Point, Iowa, and Dr. Kenneth M. (Elizabeth) Andersen of Urbandale, Iowa; nine grandchildren, Ben and Andrew Bach, Nathan and Melinda Potter, and Lorick, Eva, Alex, Natasha and Dane Andersen; five great-grandchildren; and one sister, Marian Love of Portland, Ore.

He was preceded in death by one grandchild, Noah Potter; five brothers; and three sisters.

Dr. Andersen was born Dec. 5, 1924, in Missouri Valley, Iowa, son of Chris and Marian (Christiansen) Andersen. He graduated from Missouri Valley High School and then attended the University of Iowa and the University of Pennsylvania for his undergraduate work. He then entered the U.S Army serving during World War II. The Army then sent him to medical school at Johns Hopkins College of Medicine in Baltimore, Md., where he graduated in 1949. On June 23, 1949, he married Marilyn Baumgartner at St. Sebald Lutheran Church in Strawberry Point.

Dr. Andersen practiced medicine in the Center Point area from January of 1951 to the summer of 2001. Medicine was his lifelong passion and he was a very respected doctor by his patients and peers. He was very proud of the fact that he was one of the last country doctors who still made house calls.

Dr. Andersen also had a dairy farm that brought him great pleasure. He enjoyed reading medical journals, historical books, gardening and arguing politics. He was a member of the Linn County Medical Society, Diplomate of the American Academy of Family Practice and a member of the United Methodist Church of Center Point.

After his retirement, he continued to see patients and do volunteer work for the Community Health Free Clinic until his death. He and his wife established the Kenneth and Marilyn Andersen scholarship fund for Center Point-Urbana High School seniors. Dr. Andersen and his wife were instrumental in development of the expansion of the Center Point Public Library which will be named in their honor. He was most proud of his children and grandchildren's accomplishments.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Center Point Library Building Fund, United Methodist Church of Center Point Building Fund or to the Center Point Ambulance Service.

Please share a memory of Dr. Andersen at www.murdochfuneral

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