John Anderson

John Anderson, of Prentice, Wisconsin, died peacefully on April 16th, 2020 with family nearby. John was born on October 2, 1947 in Ashland, Wisconsin. Raised on the farm, along the White River, John spent his childhood traversing the family’s expansive land with his best friend and little brother, Bill.
John graduated high school in Tomahawk, Wisconsin in 1965. He went on to study education at Lincoln County Teachers College, where he earned a degree and graduated in 1967. John then went on to gain a U.S. Merchant Mariner’s License from Duluth, MN and spent the following year sailing Lake Superior on Lake Freighters, or the “big boats” as he liked to refer to them. John was drafted into the United States Army in March of 1968, where he performed reconnaissance missions throughout Vietnam. It was the summer of 1969, when John returned to the United States after receiving a Purple Heart for his service.
On August 3, 1969 John met Mary Hayes at Mall’s Tavern in Ashland, WI, the woman with whom he would spend the rest of his life. John and Mary exchanged vows on April 11th, 1970 at St. Constance Catholic Church in Chicago, Illinois.
John spent his career as a Journeyman Sheet Metal Worker. He was a vastly gifted man and a true tinkerer. John was routinely involved in many projects, both professionally and personally doing various tasks around the home. His garage was his workshop, where a lot of his brilliance came to life.
Much of John’s life was dedicated to his belief in a higher power, which he shared with his children through time spent in nature. John often referred to that higher power as “The Great Spirit.” He passed on a spiritual education to his children and bonded with his boys through hunting and fishing, while teaching all 6 children and 7 grandchildren to respect the elements. The heart of the matter as the spirit sees it, John believed his church was the woods.
John is survived by his wife, Mary Hayes, with whom he recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on April 11, 2020. John is survived by his children Stephanie Anderson of Green Bay; Amy Mazzariello (John) of De Pere; Bryan Anderson of Green Bay; Matthew Anderson (Candace) of Abrams; Sarah Bucio (Gustavo) of Sobieski; Stephen Anderson (Sadi) of Prentice; his brother, Bill Anderson of Ashland, and his seven grandchildren Noah Manders, Sidney Anderson, Olivia and Audrey Mazzariello, Felix and Matilda Bucio, and Harper Anderson.
John’s love for music, the great outdoors, motorcycles, boats and cars offered opportunities for many friendships. John had a way with words and a great talent for connecting with others by sharing his philosophy through storytelling. Children were drawn to him by his charming sense of security. He had a gift for making them feel important and heard.
John’s words continued to impact those he loved most up until the final days of his life, where he was quoted saying “but in the end I’m satisfied with the way it turned out.”
John is preceded in death by his father James Reid Anderson (Phillips, Wisconsin), mother Dorothy Woodward Anderson (Ashland, Wisconsin), Aunt Ruth Mess (Phillips, Wisconsin), “the boys” Harold and Stanley Morricals (Phillips, Wisconsin), and his niece Alicia Anderson (Ashland, Wisconsin).
A private celebration of life will be held for John on his birthday, October 2, 2020. John’s wife and children would like to deeply thank the nurses and staff at Aspirus Hospital in Medford, Wisconsin for their care and empathy during his final days.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations made to the Wisconsin Veterans Foundation, Inc. @ https://www.wisconsinveteransfoundation.org/donate-1.html