Virgil Anderson

Virgil Paul Anderson, 91, of Clear Lake, died Friday, April 22, 2016, at the Oakwood Care Center, Clear Lake.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 27, 2016, at Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Dr. Pat Hall officiating.  Visitation will begin at 12 p.m. Wednesday at the church.  Burial will be in the Clear Lake Cemetery, with military honors provided by the Clear Lake V.F.W.  Donations may be directed to Zion Lutheran Church or Hospice of North Iowa.

Virgil Paul Anderson was born on Feb. 25, 1925 in Brunswick, Minn., the son of Hilding J. and Ellen C. (Johnson) Anderson.  He was raised on a farm.  Virgil attended his first eight years of school in Coin, Minn. in a one-two room country school, graduating from high school in Ogilvie, Minn. in 1942.  He served in the U.S. Army 22 months, during WWII in Germany and France as an MP.  Following an Honorable Discharge with a T/5 Corporal rank, he returned home and worked for Bamby Bakery doing house to house sales in Minneapolis for seven years.

     Virgil married Elaine Hellzen on Jan. 19, 1946 at the Brunswick Lutheran Church in Brunswick, Minn.  They moved to Clear Lake in 1956 where he first worked for a service station for five years.  His career started with a job with Ruan Transport Corp. as the shop foreman and mechanic.  He worked there for 29 years.

Retirement did not mean he was relaxing.  He loved golfing, fishing and traveling.  He walked down the Grand Canyon twice, first time with David and his wife, Caroline and Jerry; they went down the Kibab trail and out bright Angel trail.  The second time with Wally Anderson, down from North rim, stayed at fantom range and out the south trail the next day.  He twice walked across the Glacier with Jerry and grandson, Chad, backpacking; and the last trip was a week in Jasper Park, Alberta, Canada.  He said he loved it all and was truly blessed.

    Virgil was also busy with Zion Lutheran Church, as a member, chairing and serving on several boards and small groups.  He was also a member of the Noon Lions, and other volunteer work.

     Virgil is survived by his wife, Elaine Anderson, Clear Lake; sons, David (Caroline) Anderson, Eloy, Az. and Jerrold (Sandy) Anderson, Oro Valley, Az.; nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; four brothers Marbury (Sylvia) Anderson, St. Paul, Minn., Elwin Anderson, Cambridge, Minn., Eugene (Marilyn) Anderson, Coon Rapids, Minn. and Theodore (Shirley) Anderson, Aitken, Minn.; and several nieces and nephews.

     Virgil was preceded in death by his parents; son, Randi Paul Anderson; three brothers, Roslyn, Curtis and Vernon; and one sister, Doris Osland.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.