Robert Anderson

ANDERSON, ROBERT I. MADISON, WI/MT PLEASANT, SC
Robert I. Anderson, 91, died peacefully on April 26, 2015 at Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg, WI with his children at his side. Bob recently returned to his family and Madison, WI after living and working as an accomplished professional mechanical engineer in Minnesota, Montana, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, New York, Georgia and South Carolina.

Bob was born September 24, 1923 to Robert Albin and Effie Nugent Anderson. Following a downhill skiing accident in 1940, Bob lost the vision in one eye which prevented him from serving in WWII. He was raised in Minneapolis, and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1945. In 1951, Bob married Mary Willmert at Hennepin Avenue Methodist Church where they had both been lifelong members. They raised their four children, Robert (Marilouise) Anderson, Milwaukee, WI, Kathleen (David) Waisman, Spokane, WA, David Anderson, Madison, WI, Susan (Jeff) Meinholz, Madison, WI, and was proud grandpa to Forrest (Tracy) Anderson, Brookfield, WI, Dale (Heidi) Anderson, Hales Corners, WI, Bill (Crystine Dai) Meinholz, St. Paul, MN, Monika (Ryan) Jacobson, Seattle, WA, Laura (Jeremy) Tomczak, St. Croix Falls, WI, Sarah Waisman, Los Angeles, CA, Mary Anderson, Madison, WI, and Isabella Anderson, Evanston, IL and great-grandpa to Desiderio, Amico and Aria Anderson of Brookfield, Haley and Ayden Anderson of Hales Corners, and Finley Jacobson of Seattle.

His years as a partner in the architectural and engineering firm of Weiler, Strang and McMillan were especially memorable for him professionally. Bob thoroughly enjoyed the building projects and the opportunity to mentor and train others in the mechanical engineering field. In 1971, Bob and Mary moved with their three youngest children to Caracas, Venezuela as members of the Peace Corps where he assisted the government in improvements to hospital and medical facility heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems.

Bob married Lois McGurk in 1980 and eventually settled in Mt. Pleasant, SC. He was active in Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church and the East Cooper-Mt. Pleasant Kiwanis Club.

Returning to Madison in 2014 allowed him to reconnect with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as his life wound down. Bob suffered from years of the effects of bipolar disorder, and eventually succumbed to its hold on him. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings June (Derald) West and Bruce Anderson. Bob is further survived by his brother Roger (Dorothy) Anderson of Golden Valley, MN.

Bob's family would like to thank all of those who were so generous in their time, talents, gifts and friendship in his last months in Madison: his physicians, the staff and residents of The Gardens and Segoe Gardens, Bethany United Methodist Church, the West Madison Kiwanis Club and the comforting arms of Agrace HospiceCenter. Memorials can be made in his name to Bethany United Methodist Church, Madison, or Agrace HospiceCenter of Fitchburg.

A private family gathering will be held.

"If you miss the train I'm on, you will know that I am gone. You can hear the whistle blow, a hundred miles."

Please share your memories at www.cressfuneralservice.com


Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road Madison
(608) 238-3434