Robert “Bob” Anderson, 84, of Matthews, passed away on April 29, 2012. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Betty, his children; Bill (Karen) Anderson and Beth Anderson, granddaughter; Bailey, brother; Don Anderson, sisters; Lucy Matson, Bernice (Jack) Smith, brother in law; Milton (Elizabeth) Wisland and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sisters; Lillian Zawacki, Dorothy Huff and Hazel Jaynes Auth.
Bob had a great journey in his lifetime and was always surrounded by loving family and friends. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a major in business and insurance. Throughout his 33 years in the insurance business, Bob made a great contribution to the industry as well as to the communities here he lived.
Bob and his brother founded Viking Insurance Company in 1971 and it grew to over 250 employees, was licensed in 11 states and wrote a premium volume of 52 million when the company was sold to Crum and Forster Personal Insurance Co. Bob was Vice President and Secretary and was responsible for organizing and managing the underwriting, rating, marketing and personnel areas of the company.
While living in Wisconsin, he was a past President of the Wisconsin Insurance Alliance, a past President of Madison West Kiwanis; he served on the Governors Advisory Committee for the Wisconsin Insurance Dept.; he served on the Board of Directors of Methodist Hospital and in 1981, he was named Wisconsin Insurance Man of the Year by the Wisconsin Independent Insurance Agents Association. Bob was active in his church wherever he lived, and served on various committees. During his lifetime, he lived in Wisconsin, California, Minnesota, Arizona and North Carolina. He was a member of the Matthews First United Methodist Church and attended the Fellowship Sunday School class. When his health permitted, he was a volunteer at the Levine Senior Center in Matthews.
Bob enjoyed sports. He played football in high school and refereed football and basketball in college. He was an avid fisherman and was a trout guide on the Brule River in Wisconsin during his college years. He often fished the mouth of the Columbia River and for 9 years spent a week in Alaska Salmon fishing. He enjoyed golf and was a loyal Vikings fan.
Bob and Betty organized the first family reunion 25 years ago. Though the Anderson's are scattered all over the country, he wanted to everyone to continue to keep in touch and the reunion has taken place somewhere in the country ever since.
Bob’s family would like to sincerely thank the Plantation estates medical personnel for their care and thoughtfulness. He will always be remembered as a devoted and loving husband, father, father-in -law and grandfather. We will miss him immeasurably.
A memorial service to celebrate Bob’s life will be held Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 3:00pm in the auditorium at Plantation Estates 701 Plantation Estates Dr. Matthews, NC 28105. The family will receive friends following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorials be made to the National Parkinson Foundation www.parkinson.org and/or the Levine Senior Center 1050 DeVore Ln Matthews, NC 28105.
Please visit Bob’s online memorial at www.mcewenminthillchapel.com
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