Joseph Earl Anderson

Joe Anderson, 81, died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, September 5, 2019 in Murrieta, California. He was born on January 14, 1938 at the family farm north of Kulm, North Dakota. He was the eighth child of Gust and Helga Anderson. Their family loved God and built a legacy of faith in Jesus Christ, trust in God’s Word and love for others.

Joe went to Swede School #1 through eighth grade, then attended Kulm High School graduating in 1956. He attended Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri, later transferring to and graduating from Wichita State University in June 1962.

At Evangel, Joe met his sweetheart, Shirley Williams from Chicago, Illinois. They married on August 6, 1960 in Chicago. In their 59 years of marriage, they too built their family around faith in Jesus Christ, their love of God and love for others. Together they had three children: Timothy, Susan and Steven.

After college, Joe was trained on computers and programming in its earliest stages, which led to a 38 year career in systems design at the corporate level. His employment led them to Wichita, KS to Omaha, NE to Minneapolis, MN, then later to Southern California where he worked for 31 years as Vice President of systems design for First Interstate Bank and ADP.

He retired just after his 60th birthday. Joe and Shirley returned to Springfield, MO where they enjoyed 19 wonderful years together reuniting with friends, visiting family, supporting Evangel sports, traveling, and hosting many family gatherings. Joe also made sure that he got time on the golf course with good friends each week.

They decided to return to the Southern California area in 2017 to be close by family.

Joe is preceded in death by his son, Steven Joseph Anderson, his father and mother Gust and Helga Anderson, his sisters Rose Ella Anderson, Ardis Anderson, Judith Anderson Loven, sister-in-law Arleth Bjur Anderson, brothers Vincent Anderson and Arley Anderson and brother-in-law Raymond Loven.

He is survived by his wife Shirley Anderson, son and daughter-in-law Tim Anderson and Laura Verfurth Anderson, daughter and son-in-law Susan Anderson Saunders and Jim Saunders, seven grandchildren Meredith Anderson, Claire Anderson, Luke Anderson, Emma Anderson, Jake Anderson, Ian Saunders, and Grace Saunders, his brother and sister-in-law Eugene Anderson and Lucille Roloff Anderson, his sister and brother-in-law June Anderson Beaver and Lamoine Beaver, and his sister-in-laws Arla Johnson Anderson and Joyce Bjur Anderson.

Joe’s faith in God carried him through the blessings and burdens of life, and now he rests in the arms of his loving Heavenly Father.