- Date Of Birth: July 20, 1925
- Date Of Death: March 19, 2021
- State: Illinois
Roger Gaylon Anderson, 95, a longtime Jacksonville, IL, resident, died Friday, March 19, 2021, in Watseka.
He was born July 20, 1925, in Chandler, MN, the son of George and Gladys Sorenson Anderson. He married Miriam Louise Day on March 27, 1948, and she preceded him in death on March 14, 2014.
He is survived by one daughter, Marilyn (Jeff) Maurer of Cissna Park; one son, Max (Karen) Anderson of Huntsville, AL; four grandchildren, Amanda (Ben) Henrichs, Ashley (Chris) Nazarczuk, Jennifer (Anthony) Videka, and Jeffrey Maurer; and seventeen great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Miriam; one brother, Max Anderson; and one sister, Twila Ogburn.
Mr. Anderson was raised in Kewanee. He was drafted at the age of 18, and a veteran of World War II, serving in the Pacific Theatre with the Army Air Corps, 5th Air Force, 22nd Bombardier Group, 19th Squadron. Roger was a ball turret/waist gunner on the B-24 Liberator. After the war, he graduated from Western Illinois University in Macomb, with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Arts. He later received his master’s degree from Bradley University in Peoria.
Mr. Anderson first taught in industrial arts for four years in the Colchester and Winona schools. In 1954, he began teaching at Illinois Braille and Sight Saving School (now ISVI) in Jacksonville, retiring in 1986. While there, he taught automotive mechanics, served as the Boy Scout Leader, and was the scorekeeper for the wrestling team for 28 years. Roger also worked for Freesen, Inc. during the summers from 1963-1985, then worked full-time from 1986-1997. He was a 60-year member of Grace United Methodist Church in Jacksonville and was also a member of the American Legion.
