William “Drew” Andrew Anderson January 29, 1947 – February 28, 2019 Share this obituary View Photo Galleries| Sign Guestbook| Send Sympathy Card William “Drew” Anderson, age 72, of St. Paul, passed away February 28, 2019, surrounded by his family. He is survived and loved by his wife Carol (May) Anderson of 48 years; children Jennifer (Tim) Anderson-Easthouse, Carla (James) Foote, Joshua (Kara) Anderson, Alyssa, Jeanna, and Kari Anderson; grandchildren Charlie, Julia, Alex, Ruby, Henry, Alia, Liam, Keira and Tyson; sisters Dea Anderson, Ila Hoberg, and Glenda Sapp; uncle Russ Anderson; sisters- and brothers-in-law Marsha Anderson, John Tancheff, Judy (Bob) Osmundson, Arleen (Stan) Moren, Bob May, and Arlette (Rick) Kvam; and many other relatives and friends, including his four-legged best buddy, Franklin Delano. He was preceded in death by parents Dorothy and Gay Anderson, sister Judy Hamson, brother LaMarr, nephews Brad Quade and David Hamson, father and mother-in-law Clarence and Joline May, brothers-in-law Larry Sapp, Ernie Hamson, and Dick Hoberg, and sister-in-law Mary Tancheff.
Drew was born January 29, 1947, to Arnold and Dorothy (Hass) Anderson in Albert Lea, MN. He had happy memories of childhood on the Anderson family farm near Matawan, MN with his sister Judy, brother LaMarr, and many cousins. After his parents divorced, his mother married Gay Anderson, he gained two sisters Ila and Glenda and moved to Frost, MN.
Drew recalled that on their first day in the new town, Gay sent him and his brother out to explore and told them, “If anyone asks who you are, just tell them you are Gay Anderson’s boys”. Drew always remembered that feeling of security and acceptance and it shaped the man he became. The family grew with the addition of baby sister Dea and later moved to Adams, MN, where Drew graduated from Adams High in 1965.
After graduation, he volunteered for the US Army and was in active service 3 years, 2 months, and 23 days, serving two tours of duty in Vietnam before being honorably discharged in January 1969. Drew had many stories about his time in the service. One story he liked to tell was of the time when, as army cook at the Vung Tau Airbase in South Vietnam, he “accidentally” got into the wrong cooler and served lobster tail to the enlisted men.
Another time a surplus of oranges came into the mess hall, so he drove into town tossing crates of oranges out of the back of a truck and watching kids grab them up. Drew’s generosity touched many more people throughout his life, and over the years he shared his cooking skills with his large family, always bringing army-sized portions to every gathering. In 1970, Drew became engaged to the love of his life, Carol May, also from Adams, after sweeping her off her feet with his smooth, easy charm, goofy sense of humor, and the coolest car in town, a ’68 Firebird.
They were married on March 20, 1971. Drew farmed alongside Carol’s parents on their farm outside of Taopi, MN, before settling in St. Paul where they raised their six children. Drew created community and was a generous neighbor, ready to lend a hand with a garden tiller in spring or a snowblower in winter.
A highly skilled machinist, he worked for Longyear Corporation and Kurt Manufacturing in Fridley, MN until his retirement. He also spent many hours repairing or crafting projects in his own garage. Although he made his home in St. Paul, whenever he had the chance, Drew couldn’t wait to get out of the city to see the broader horizons where the sky didn’t end at the neighbor’s house.
Over the years Drew canoed through the Boundary Waters, wandered through markets in Mexico, climbed the Great Wall of China, and visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. He crossed the country with camper, car, truck, and motorcycle and enjoyed an impromptu road trip anytime, anywhere to visit people he cared about. Fishing in Canada with his family was his favorite annual tradition.
After retirement, he and Carol spent summers camping with their grandchildren, tending to their garden, and canning and cooking large batches of applesauce and tomato soup that he shared with anyone who dropped in. Drew was a wonderful husband, brother, and father who would do anything for his family. It didn’t matter what time you called; he would always pick up the phone.
Many a night he drove out to rescue a daughter who locked her keys in the car at two in the morning or ran out of gas by the side of the road. His youngest daughter Kari was his special “dinker”. His grandchildren remember “Papa” Drew always had a joke for them and made them feel special by cooking their favorite foods.
Drew loved to plan gatherings and was the heart and soul of every holiday and reunion. Friends were family to him too, and always welcome at the table. Drew had a life well and truly lived.
He had many adventures and touched many people. Words cannot express how much he was loved and how much he will be missed. A funeral Mass will be held Saturday, April 6, from 2:00-3:00 PM at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, 375 Oxford St. N., officiated by Fr.
Erich Rutten. A luncheon and celebration of life will be held after the service. More details forthcoming.
SERVICES Memorial Mass of Christian Burial Saturday, April 06, 2019 2:00 PM St. Peter Claver Catholic Church 375 Oxford Street No.
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