John William Anderson

John William Anderson was born in Riley County, Kansas on June 1, 1928 and passed in Spokane, WA on October 7, 2022.

John was born to Rueben and Nina Anderson, and had a brother named Joseph. They moved from Kansas to Portland, OR in 1942 and later to Albany, OR. All of them preceded him in death.

John was raised in the Methodist Episcopal Church. God first spoke to him about personal conversion when he was 16 and he was converted at 19 while attending Pacific Business College with accounting emphasis and planned to be a CPA. At age 20 he sensed God's call to full time ministry and enrolled in Cascade College.

John attended Cascade College and earned a degree in History in 1952. As a senior he served as student body president. At college John first heard and experienced the preaching and experience of the entire sanctification. He eventually attended Western Evangelical Seminary and graduated with a Master’s in Divinity degree in 1957.

John met Genevieve Hampton while attending Cascade College. Their paths crossed again in 1950 when John began attending Highland Park Church of the Nazarene. He and Genevieve were married July 2, 1952 in the Cascade College Chapel. They had two children together Daniel and Mary. In her later years she was a victim of Alzheimer’s disease and a stroke, but maintained a beautiful spirit and Christian walk. She preceded John in death in 2007.

John married a widow, Josephine Swanson, July 20, 2008. She also preceded him in death in 2021.

John had been an ordained elder of the Church of the Nazarene from 1955 to 1996 when he retired. He had his Pastorates in Donald, OR 1953-1957, Portland, OR 1957-1965, Spokane, WA South Hill 1965-1968, and Nampa, ID Lakeview 1993- 2000 as a part time associate, Bethel church in Spokane, WA as associate pastor 2001 – 2020. He also worked at Northwest Nazarene College as the director of student Financial Aids, 1968 – 1977 and as College Controller, 1977 – 1993.

He will be dearly missed by his son Daniel Anderson of Portland, OR, his daughter Mary Kuula and son-in-law Gary Kuula of Spokane, WA. As well as by his grandchildren: Isaac, Ian, Anika, and Andrew Kuula of Spokane and four great grandchildren.

John’s testimony: I was reared in a home that held Christian Values. I had a definite Christian experience in 1947 and in 1948 felt a call of God to full time ministry. Jesus Christ is my personal savior, I love his Word

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.BallandDodd.com for the Anderson family.