Obituary of Harlan Jerome Anderson

HARLAN J. ANDERSON, Captain, United States Air Force (retired) passed away on, August 19, 2012 at the age of 81. Born July 24 1931 in Iola Wisconsin, he was raised by his parents, Mabel (Leppen) and Ingwald Anderson, with his two sisters, Irene and Alice, in Rosholt Wisconsin. He was active in 4H, ran track, and played baseball and basketball in high school. He spent summers working on his Grandfather's farm in Scandinavia Wisconsin. In 1949 he enlisted in the United States Air Force; he served for 21 years at many locations including Japan, Marrakech Morocco, Sembach Air Base Germany, Keflavik Iceland, San Antonio Texas, Rantoul Illinois, March and Travis Air Force Bases in California, Bedford Virginia, Panama City Florida, Kansas City Missouri, and Madison Wisconsin. He began his career as an aircraft and sheet metal mechanic rising to the rank of Technical Sergeant. While serving in Japan during the Korean conflict he repaired aircraft returning from combat missions in Korea. Following service in Japan he returned to California and there volunteered for an assignment to Ben Guerir Air Base in Marrakech Morocco. There he met and married his wife of 52 years, Eva Benaim. The two returned to California in 1955. In 1957 he entered Officer Candidate School in San Antonio Texas, upon graduation he was commissioned a second lieutenant and trained as an air weapons controller. He retired from active duty in 1969. Together Harlan and Eva raised three sons, Glenn, Paul, and Robert. The five traveled throughout Europe and the United States, visiting relatives in Norway, Morocco, and France. After leaving the Air Force, the family returned to Wisconsin settling in Sun Prairie. While in Sun Prairie he was employed by Sears Roebuck, Oscar Meyers, and the United States Post Office in Madison. In 1980 he was selected to be the Post Master of the Jefferson Wisconsin Post Office. At that time they made Jefferson Wisconsin their home. He was a member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Jefferson and a former member of the Jefferson Rotary Club, and a former member of the Retired Officers Association. He is survived by three sons; Glenn Anderson of Des Plaines IL, Paul (Elizabeth) Anderson of Yorktown VA, Robert Anderson of Jefferson WI, five grandchildren Janice (Paul) Ferguson, Kristen (Dustin) Harris, David Anderson, Kirana Anderson, and Aric Anderson, great-grandchildren, Cooper and Ivan Ferguson and his sister Alice Nornberg of Neenah Wisconsin. He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Eva, and his sister Irene Iacullo. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday August 23, 2012 at Saint Mark Lutheran Church in Jefferson Wisconsin with the Rev. Dr. Kenneth Comstock officiating, followed by burial in Scandinavia Wisconsin. Donations in memory of Harlan may be directed to St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Jefferson or to the Jefferson Rotary Club. For online condolences and memorials visit www.schneidermichaelisfuneralhome.com