Ted was born in Bedford, Iowa to August Andrew and Alta May Anderson. He was an energetic boy who was always willing to lend a hand. In school Ted was active in sports as a member of the football, basketball and baseball teams for the Bedford Bulldogs.
After high school he began working as a lineman for the local telephone company and as a communications specialist in the Iowa National Guard. Not long after he started working, he enlisted in the United States Army to help during the Korean War, but he was glad the war had ended before he could get to the Korean Peninsula. After returning from active duty, Ted met the love of his life, Norma Jean. Their love was so profound that after only dating for three months they were married on January 24th, 1959.
The life Ted built with his beautiful bride would define much of what he valued in life. He was a fiercely loyal husband, wonderful father to four very lucky kids, the best grandfather to eight grandkids and four great grandkids, a little league baseball coach, and dedicated employee to the phone company where he worked for over forty years. He loved to fish and hunt in his early years and even hosted the famous Billy Martin and Whitey Herzog on a hunting trip in the early 70s. He was a mainstay at morning coffee and everyone in the small town of Corning, Iowa who knew Ted loved him.
Ted was also a sports enthusiast. He would willingly join his kids in all kinds of games and would often be scolded for playing ball in the house. In Ted’s late 40s his son Fred introduced him to his next great passion, the game of golf. This sport would become his favorite way to spend his time and many great memories were made on the golf course. He also loved to cheer on the Chiefs, Yankees, Celtics, Cyclones and Royals, and if one of those teams was playing you can bet that the T.V. would be tuned into the game.
As a grandfather, Ted always made time to make memories with his grandkids. He enjoyed taking them to the park, going to their school activities and playing games with them as they gathered around his lazy boy recliner. Ted was a cherished grandfather to all his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Ted is preceded in death by his loving granddaughter Lauren, his parents, and his four brothers and four sisters. He is survived by his loving wife Jean, his four kids, Carla (Steve), Fred (Lori), Rob and Adam (Cindy), grandkids, Joshua, Lexie, Ryan, Paige, Tyler, Mariah and Blake, and great grandkids, Aubrey, Eleanor, Hunter, and Avery. Ted leaves behind a wonderful legacy as a man who lived life with kindness, love and a dignity that was admired by everyone.
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