Loren Robert Anderson

Loren Robert Anderson, age 76, of St. Germain, Wisconsin, went home to Jesus on Sunday, October 29, 2017, at Lake City Medical Center in Lake City, Minnesota. He was born on May 12, 1941, in Chicago, Illinois.

Loren graduated from North Park College in Chicago, Illinois, with a bachelor’s degree in economics. He married Carola Ruth Brandel on June 27, 1964. Loren was a loving and caring husband, father, and grandfather who always had a quick wit and would keep the room in laughter. He was always very involved in church and served the Lord in many leadership positions, by using his experience to manage numerous building projects, and by helping others individually.

Loren’s career path led him into real estate and development in northern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin and he became an award winning builder, most notably the Bay Colony Condominiums in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. He was also an avid promoter of tourism and served in leadership roles of the Chambers of Commerce in Lake Geneva, Minocqua, and later, St. Germain, Wisconsin. The many connections made promoting tourism brought him into politics and he traveled the state campaigning with Tommy Thompson leading to Tommy’s first term as Governor. Loren was then appointed to head the Department of Development for the State of Wisconsin, served on the Wisconsin State Fair Park Board, and became the Race Director for the Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wisconsin. Prior to retirement he was the communication manager at Ski-Doo’s parent company Bombardier in Wausau, Wisconsin.

Throughout his life, Loren always had a love of snowmobiling and snowmobile racing. Starting in the 1960s, he founded the first snowmobile club in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, and began racing grass drags and ovals which led to many awards and honors. Snowmobile trips to the Minocqua area with his family were common and upon relocation to the northwoods in 1979, he returned to racing as a team owner of his son’s racing efforts in the 1980s.

It was his unwavering passion for the history of snowmobile racing, and the need to honor those individuals that made the sport what it is today. This would lead him to bring together a special group of individuals and found the Snowmobile Hall of Fame in 1982 and later in 1984 The Ride With the Champs. He was recognized as the “Outstanding Contributor to the Sport of Snowmobiling” in 1998. His tireless fundraising and constant promotion of the dream brought together the resources to put the Hall into its permanent location St Germain, Wisconsin, during 2008. Loren served as president of the Hall of Fame from its founding until 2012 and was inducted into the Snowmobile Hall of Fame in 2014.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harvey Elmer Anderson and Olga Dorothea Anderson (Carlson) and brother, Ronald Harvey Anderson. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Carola Ruth Anderson (Brandel), son, Robert Loren Anderson (Melissa), daughter Kristine Carola Classen (Anderson) (Christopher), grandsons Colton, Jacob, and Landen Anderson and granddaughter, Kaarianna Classen.

A Celebration of Life will be held at St. Germain Evangelical Free Church in St. Germain, Wisconsin, on Saturday, November 4th at 11:00 am with a light lunch and popcorn following at the family shop at 1260 Burnt Bridge Road, St. Germain, Wisconsin.

Memorials can be sent to St. Germain Evangelical Free Church, 6065 Highway 70, St. Germain, Wisconsin 54558 or Snowmobile Hall of Fame, 8453 Highway 70, St. Germain, Wisconsin 54558.

Online condolences may be shared at www.nimsgernfuneral.com

NIMSGERN FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES IS SERVING THE FAMILY.