Neil Craig Anderson, age 75, of Ames, Iowa, passed away on May 7, 2025. A visitation will be held May 14, 2025 from 5:00pm -7:00pm at Stevens Memorial Chapel in Ames, Iowa. A memorial service for Neil will be held on May 15, 2025 at 1:00pm at Stevens Memorial Chapel.
Born on January 25, 1950, in Bethany, Missouri, Neil was the son of Olaf and Evelyn (Gustafson) Anderson. He graduated from Gilbert Community School in 1969 and then from Des Moines Area Community College in 1971. In 1973, Neil fulfilled his dream of owning a construction business that primarily served local farmers when he purchased his first bulldozer. In 1995, he joined David Wheelock as an equipment operator and later became the construction manager for Hickory Park Construction and Trucking, where he worked until his passing.
On February 20, 1971, Neil married his high school sweetheart, Kay Boss, in Story City, Iowa. Together, they built a life centered on family, horses, hobby farming, running the construction business, and raising their two children.
He was a passionate outdoorsman who enjoyed coon hunting in his youth and later took up fishing, hunting, woodworking, and collecting antiques. In 1988, Neil was elected to the Gilbert Community School Board following a successful grassroots campaign.
Neil is survived by his wife of 54 years, Kay Anderson; his children, Tina (Kerry) Madsen of Knoxville, Iowa, and Kevin (Stacy) Anderson of Speedwell, Tennessee; granddaughter, Abigail Anderson; sisters, Vadna Freese of Texas and Nancy Mauschman of Missouri; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Wendell, Dale, and Richard; and sister Jeanie (Mercier).
Condolences and memorials may be directed to the family.
