John D. Anderson

Hancock

     John D. Anderson, 88, a resident of Hancock, passed away Tuesday, October 31, 2023, at Woodland Heaven of Canal View – Houghton County where he had been a resident since March. 

     John was born on January 26, 1935, in White Cloud, MI, a son of the late Arthur and Lydia (Zaukelies) Anderson.  John was raised in Dollar Bay, MI and was a graduate of Dollar Bay High School, class of 1954.  John excelled in athletics, receiving 8 varsity letters while in High School for Track and Basketball.  He also worked as a janitor for the school to help his family and have some spending money. 

     Following graduation and his parents passing John worked at the Essex Wire Mill to provide support for his younger brothers and sisters.  He also attended Michigan Technological University for a year. 

     On September 8, 1959, John was united in marriage to Sharron (Ricard) of Houghton, MI.  Mr. Anderson was drafted into the US Army in 1960, and he was stationed at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Washington for two years. Following the service, the couple moved to Hammond, Indiana and John found work in a steel mill. They moved to Milwaukee in 1962, eventually buying a home in Menomonee Falls, WI in 1967.  John attended tech-school, learning computer operations, and began what was a long career in that field. John worked for almost twenty years at Teledyne Wisconsin Motors in West Allis, WI and retired from Teledyne in 1990. 

     John and Sharron raised their two sons in Menomonee Falls and in 1992, the couple moved to their lake home on White Sand Lake in Lac Du Flambeau, WI.  They enjoyed many years of quiet living and family visits at the lake before moving back to the Copper Country in 2021 to be near family. 

     When his boys were young, John enjoyed playing sports with them and all the neighborhood kids. John liked to win and always loved friendly competition. After retirement John enjoyed being outdoors, making wood for the wood stove, and playing ping pong and pickle ball. He always enjoyed a cold beer and a handful of peanuts after a busy day.  John was a life-long fan of the Detroit Lions, Tigers, and Red Wings

     Preceding him in death were his parents, 2 of his brothers Daniel and Phillip Anderson, 2 of his sisters Ruth Ringler and Esther Akin, his brother-in-law Robert Ricard, and his sister in-law Roberta Bray

     Surviving are:

            His wife: Sharron Anderson of Hancock

            His sons: John (Lecia) Anderson of Hilliard, OH

                           Stephen (Elizabeth) Anderson of Marana, AZ

            His grandchildren: Samantha, Emily, Sydney, and Jordyn

            His brother and sisters: David (Sandra) Anderson of Sebastopol, CA

                                                 Anne (Rodrigo) Suarez of Laguna Woods, CA

                                                 Naomi Wilder of Grand Rapids, MI

               His sisters-in-law: Yvonne (James) Lightfoot of Houghton

                                         Judy Ricard of Pewaukee, WI

Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins

     A private service for John will be held at a later time.  Burial will be in the Forrest Hill Cemetery of Houghton.

     To view John’s obituary or to send condolences to the family please visit www.memorialchapel.net.

     The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service – Hancock Chapel has been assisting the family with the arrangements.