George Donald Anderson, 92, long time resident of Dows, passed away on
Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at the Rehabilitation Center of Hampton.
Funeral services for George Anderson will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, June
20, 2022 at Ewing Funeral Home, 114 East Ellsworth in Dows. Burial will be in
the Fairview Cemetery in Dows.
Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the funeral home on Monday.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Dows Fire Department.
George Anderson was born December 20, 1929 in Ellis Township in southern Hardin
county Iowa to parents Roy and Nettie (Shaner) Anderson. They were farmers in
the area when George was born. He attended a one room schoolhouse about 2 miles
from the family farm. Years later, Roy and Nettie relocated to a farm in the
Dows area.
Roy and Nettie Anderson had five boys; Albert, Floyd, Carl, George, and Robert.
There was one more son that died as an infant with no given name. There were two
daughters, Helen and Janet.
George married Emma Darlene Brannick on August 25, 1952 at the Little Brown
Church in Nashua
George entered into the army in 1951 and served in Korea for one year during the
Korean War. He arrived back in the states in 1952. After he completed his Army
service in 1953, George and Emma lived in Iowa Falls. He worked at the Purina
Plant and did construction work for a short time. They then moved to Dows. It
was there that George worked at the lumber yard store in Dows for 3-4 years.
Then he took a custodian position with the Dows Community School. He worked
there for 18 years. He then went to work for Wright County Road Maintenance. It
was from Wright County that George retired after another 18 years. George and
Emma raised three children, Douglas, Donald, and Debra.
George started serving on the Dows Volunteer Fire Department as a volunteer
fireman in March of 1957 and continued to serve for 55 years. He received honors
from local and state fireman's associations for his many years of service. He
also volunteered many years for the Dows Legion. He was a patriotic man who had
honor and believed what the American Flag stood for. He knew he had served to
help keep our freedom, and he always appreciated when he was thanked for serving
his country.
He enjoyed many activities through the years. Among his favorites were hunting,
fishing, trapping, camping, golfing, gardening, playing cards, coffee time with
friends, serving meals at the American Legion, and family gatherings.
Those that preceded him in death were his wife Emma Darlene Anderson, father Roy
and mother Nettie, brothers Robert Anderson, Carl Anderson, Alfred Anderson,
Floyd Anderson, and infant brother, sisters Helen Hilpipre, and Janet Cooper.
Those left to cherish his lifetime and memory are his three children, Douglas
(Susan) Anderson of Long Grove, Donald Anderson of Iowa Falls, and Debra (Joe)
Schloss of Spencer. There are five grandchildren, Dr. Mary Schloss Fricke
(Brian) of Burnsville, Minnesota, Katherine Schloss Benson (Derek) of Plymouth,
Minnesota, Benjamin Anderson (Chelsea) of Bettendorf, Emily Anderson Rockafellow
(Ryan) of North Liberty, Chelsea Anderson Wieskamp (Andrew) of Gardner, Kansas.
Also surviving George is his sister-in law Judy Anderson (Carl). The family
wishes to include Kole Dudley of Queen Creek, Arizona, as a special person to
George and Emma. There are nine great grandchildren, other loved relatives, and
many dear friends.
He will be dearly missed by his family and friends.