Alan Burch Anderson

Alan Anderson, 90, of Columbia, MO passed away Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Columbia after a battle with Parkinson’s Disease and Prostate Cancer. He is joined again with his wife, Joyce, who passed away on April 9th of this year. A celebration of their lives will be held Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 3-5pm at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 West, Columbia, MO.

Alan was born May 20, 1936, in Wahoo, NE to Gothard Anderson and Gertrude Peck Anderson. Gothard and his family immigrated from Sweden through Ellis Island. He was a 1953 graduate of Wahoo High School and played baseball, basketball and football as well as sang in the choir and played the saxophone in the band. He earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Nebraska where he met his wife Joyce Knerl Anderson and graduated in 1957. They were married on October 25, 1957.

He worked a long career as a broadcaster in radio and television in Nebraska. He also was an announcer for Horse and Dog racing, and some Hockey games and minor league baseball games in Nebraska. And, you would often hear his deep voice on radio commercials. He had offers to go to New York City to be a broadcaster but turned them down to stay in the Midwest. He also played in many Jazz Bands at night during this time. He was a tremendous saxophone player and also played the piano. He started his career in Grand Island, Nebraska before moving to Sioux City, IA where he worked at Morningside College. In 1972, they moved to Columbia, MO where Alan was hired as the Assistant Director of Public Relations for the University of Missouri. He retired in 1979 and opened his own business, Columbia Coin and Stamp in Columbia, MO and ran his business for almost 40 years closing its door in 2019. He loved what he did and it brought him so much joy and purpose. He caught the coin and stamp collecting bug from his father who was a postman for many years in Wahoo, Nebraska, leaving him a great collection to start his business.

He was in the Cornhusker Marching Band when the University of Nebraska played in the Orange Bowl in 1955. He was also a supporter and season ticket holder for the Missouri Symphony and loved classical music which was often all he thought about in his later years learning to love music from his grandfather Peck when he was just a child. He and Joyce were both long-time members of St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Columbia. He also enjoyed fishing and golfing when he could and was an avid MIZZOU basketball and football fan and CARDINAL’S baseball fan.

He is survived by two children; Barry Anderson and his wife Debbie of Tucson, Arizona and Laura Anderson of Columbia, MO; five grandchildren, Amber Anderson, Apryl Anderson, Olivia Lockett, Stephanie Lockett, and Stephen Lockett, two great-grandchildren; Leia Lockett and Leighton Lockett. He was preceded in death by his parents and a son, David William Anderson.

Memorial donations can be made to Columbia Parkinson’s Support Group or to the Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation.

Condolences and fond memories can be shared at www.memorialfuneralhomeandcemetery.com