06/03/2011
John Anderson, 66, of Knoxville, passed away on Friday, June 3, 2011, at the Knoxville Hospital and Clinic. Visitation will begin after 1:00 p.m. on Monday, June 6, 2011, at Williams Funeral Home.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 7, 2011, also at Williams Funeral Home with Father Steve Ebel officiating. Burial will follow at Olive Chapel Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent to www.williamsfhknoxville.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Knoxville Hospital Foundation or Knoxville Fire & Rescue.
Johnnie Junior Anderson was born on June 10, 1944, in Knoxville, Iowa. He was the oldest of four children that were born to John and Zora Evelyn (Busick) Anderson.
John began his elementary education at the Hickory Point Country School and then rode a horse to the Valley Country School. He completed his high school education in Knoxville.
As a young man, John worked on the construction of the Red Rock Dam and then began working at the Maytag Company in Newton, Iowa.
John was drafted into the U.S. Army in April 1970, was stationed in Germany as an apprentice with sheet metal, and did welding and rebuilding of tanks. He served in active duty for nearly two years and already then he was recognized as a sharpshooter.
On January 8, 1971, he was united in marriage with Barbara Kay Eddleman, and to this union, two sons were born: John Austin and Thad Duane.
Following his discharge, John returned to the Maytag Company where he was employed for 26 years.
In his own workshop, he always had the right tool to do the job right. He enjoyed rebuilding cars and working on motors and established his own salvage yard.
He was a fan of red tractors and Dodge trucks. John excelled in shooting and hunting deer and received several bench rest shooting awards at 600 and 1000 yards. He continued to be an active member of the Sportsman”s Club.
John enjoyed breeding, raising, and riding American Paint and American Quarter horses. Despite his somewhat limited physical disabilities, he operated his own sawmill. He was an avid gardener, enjoyed picking berries, and eventually became a good cook and baker.
Those who will cherish his memory are his wife, Barbara; his two sons: John A. Anderson and his wife, Lesley of Knoxville, and Thad Anderson of Ankeny, Iowa; four grandchildren: Kristen, Anna, Molly Anderson, and Shawn Druliner; his brother, Alfred Anderson and his wife, Ronda and his sister, Sandra and her husband, Dick Vrban of Knoxville; a nephew, Ajay and Kerry Anderson; three nieces: Shonna, Kimberly and Mark McRoberts, Stacy Cunningham; and his mother-in-law, Mary M. (Murphy) Eddleman of Knoxville.
John was preceded in death by his parents, John and Zora Anderson, and his sister, Sharon Anderson at the age of 29 years.