Rodney Anderson

Rod Anderson, 83, died surrounded by family Friday, February 24th, in Oak Park Heights Minnesota after a prolonged battle with illness. A lifelong worker, artist, and friend to everyone who spent any amount of time with him, Rod will be gravely missed and is survived by his wife of 56 years Patricia Anderson, his daughter Cathrine O'Brien (spouse Sean), son Mark Anderson (Fiance Robyn), grandchildren Colin and Meghan O'Brien, sister in-law Bonnie Anderson,
nieces Dawn Clarin (spouse Cory) their daughters Lindsey and Teagan, nephew Eric Anderson, sister in-law Shirley Blumhoefer (spouse Tom), niece Heather McLean-Formby (spouse Chris) and their children Catriona and Finn. He was preceded in death by his parents Hugo and Elvira Anderson, and his brother Dennis L. Anderson.

Rod was born in Duluth, Minnesota August 31st, 1933. Rod was a 1951 graduate of Denfeld High School before going on to complete a bachelor's degree in Art Education from the University of Minnesota Duluth. At that point Rod served his country as a U.S. Air Force Navigator, eventually being Honorably discharged after earning the rank of Captain. Rod then flirted with the idea of working in either youth work or the Lutheran Ministry. He decided on the YMCA and earned a Master's degree in Administration from George Williams College in Chicago, where he found his passion in the non-profit sector with the YMCA- for whom he worked in one capacity or the other from 1960 to 1986.

Notorious for a selfless nature, Rod served his longtime home of Madison, Wisconsin through his job at the Y. Plus his longtime association with the service organization Rotary International, for whom he even eventually sat on the board of directors in 1985 and was professionally employed. Rod was an Elder and active member of Covenant Presbyterian Church. Rod's impressive career not withstanding, to most of his friends and family Rod will primarily be remembered, for his gentle and kind spirit, his humor, his honesty and compassion, and his way of attempting to achieve artistic perfection, not only when painting or taking pictures (which he loved) but also while tiling a bathroom or doing even the most mundane of tasks. He approached his life artistically, and to us will always be remembered as a true work of art.