John Milton Anderson, 90, died Feb. 25, 2015. He was born in Chicago on May 6, 1924, to the late John O. Anderson and Clara P. (Paulson) Anderson, who preceded him in death as well as his brother, Melvin R. Anderson.
He is survived by his loving partner and wife of 66 years, Jean M. Anderson. They met as members of Irving Park Lutheran Church, founded by Swedes, in Chicago and married Sept. 11, 1948. They retired to Melbourne, Fla., in 2006.
Survivors also include his daughters, Christine (Robin Dewis), Patricia Flanagan (Thomas) and Julie Liscum (John Larsen); grandchildren, Michelle Liscum (Rob Kew), Anthony Liscum-Maddox (Jessica), Joseph Flanagan and Anne Flanagan; great-grandchildren, Jasmine, Brandon, Maya, Anthony, Evan, Haylee, Maddison and Alex. He was deeply loved and will be missed by in-laws Lois Uding (Ronald) and Jack Elk (Susan) and their families.
He was a devoted son and good friend to many including the Bohners Lake hill group. He was a steady and dependable individual who with Jean’s love and assistance, was a wonderful example of a very good man.
He was educated in Chicago at John B. Murphy Elementary, Lane Technical High School (42) and the Illinois Institute of Technology. He proudly served in WWII from January of 1943 to December of 1945 in the 864th Aviation Engineering Battalion in the South Pacific. He began his career as a structural draftsman in Chicago for R.J. Graham and progressed to AIA Registered Architect employed by various firms in the Chicago area as well as in and around Milwaukee. He established his own firm in Burlington in 1975. John and Jean retired to Melbourne, Florida, in 2006.
John’s civic commitments were clearly demonstrated by the organizations he chose to be affiliated which included the VFW, Irving Park Post #1487, Chicago, (Past Post Commander and Life Member) and Burlington, Wisconsin, #2823, Life Member, and DAV, Life Member, Chapter 34 of Wisconsin. Other organizations included Kiwanis of Burlington, Boys Scouts of America (Institutional Rep. Chicago), Irving Park Lutheran Church (John’s relatives were involved with its founding and for which he served multiple roles as well as a Church Steward), Parkview Lutheran Church (Council President), and Peace Lutheran Church (Council Member) designed by John. In Florida, John and Jean joined Advent Lutheran Church.
He had wide ranging hobbies and interests. He was a member of Racine’s EAA (Experimental Aviation Association) and completed his private pilot’s lessons, passed the written test and was just short of his solo flight before an illness interrupted his progress. He enjoyed electric model trains, model radio controlled airplanes, and remote-controlled sailboats. He traveled, when Jean made him, but was always glad to have seen other places. He stayed current with community and national news and was interested and invested in his children and their children’s activities and concerns. And as you might expect, endemic in his thought and in his projects, he considered the balance between form and function and was a keen observer of the beauty found all around us.
The family would like to thank William Childs Hospice House.
A Celebration of Life is Friday, March 20, at 1 p.m., at Advent Lutheran Church, 7550 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne, Fla., including Military Honors and followed by a luncheon at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested for Advent Lutheran Church.
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