J. Allan Anderson

Funeral services for J. Allan Anderson, of Morris, Minnesota, will be on Friday, February 2, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Morris, visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service.  Reverend Emmy Swedlund will be officiating, and burial will be at Summit Cemetery in Morris.   

Jennis Allan Anderson was born on October 18, 1929 to Morris and Vera (Gibbs) Anderson at their home in Yellow Medicine County in Minnesota.  Early childhood years were spent on their farm in the Minnesota River Valley and with a move to Belview in 4th grade, he kept busy helping his Dad at the Service Station, fixing tires as new were in short supply.  He met his wife to be, Marvel, when they were 12 and enjoyed their high school years together.  After graduation, J. Allan went to Gale Institute in Minneapolis to learn the telegrapher trade and that same year married Marvel Maxine Hoppenrath.

The couple married on December 12, 1948 at Rock Dell Lutheran Church in Belview, Minnesota and shortly after moved to DeKalb, Illinois where they spent their first year of marriage.  In 1949, Allan started working for Great Northern Railroad and the couple relocated to Dassel, Minnesota. Then, in December of 1954, Marvel and Allan moved to Morris, Minnesota where they would spend over six decades together raising their family.  

During their 72-year marriage, Allan and Marvel were blessed with five children.  As the family grew, Allan added part time employment as a bookkeeper, accountant, insurance sales, many of those at the former Morris State Bank.  Allan eventually joined Prudential Insurance as a special agent and financial planner, receiving multiple achievement awards for his work until he retired at the age of 62.  Balancing his professional life with family time was a priority and most often he included the family in work travels across the country and even to the Bahamas.

Allan’s hobbies became the defining lifestyle for his free time.  Square dancing was a favorite for Marvel and Allan for over 50 years and they enjoyed traveling to local dances as well as across the country, attending 29 national square-dancing conventions.  Family was very important to him.  He so enjoyed spending summer days at the cabin on Lake Amelia, teaching his children to water ski, fish and enjoy time together.  To his grandchildren and great grandchildren, he was a hero, their champion and the best at teaching them to fish and clean them too.  As seasons changed, he moved to hunting - ducks, pheasants and deer.  He was a strong advocate of wildlife conservation and loved his hunting land and dabbling in farming activities.

In the latter years of their marriage, Allan and Marvel would make Mesa, Arizona their winter home and spent over 25 years as snowbirds, enjoying the beautiful weather and the many activities the resort had to offer.  Allan was a natural learner and eventual teacher of lapidary and silver smithing, creating beautiful rings, pendants, belt buckles and bolos for family and friends.

Allan enjoyed people and had many, many friends throughout his life.  His sense of humor, kindness and unconditional love made an indelible mark on family as well as those who knew him.  Allan passed away on January 25, 2024 at the age of 94 at his home surrounded by family.

Allan is survived by his children: Barry (Patti) Anderson of Hutchinson, Kathy (Gary) Wilde of Minneapolis, Robin (Rich) Kochmann of Waconia, Scott (Ronda) Anderson of Hamel; daughter-in-law, Jeanne Anderson of Maple Grove; grandchildren: Jessie (Steve) Kneprath of Willmar, Emily (Michael) McDevitt of Navarre, Fl, Abby (Tim) Barberg of Cokato, Kiran Anderson of Maple Grove, Vijay Anderson of Maple Grove, Angie (Buddy) Rogers of Chanhassen, Megan Kochmann of Woodbury, Ryan (Sarah) Anderson of Rogers, and Blake Anderson of Hamel; great-grandchildren: Ella, Ethan, Will, Lee, Seth, Audra Kneprath; Ashleigh, Caleb, Lacey, Chenell, Bryant McDevitt; Orrin, Selah, Gideon, Lander, Kaia, and Sawyer Barberg; Madison, Derek, Lynlee, Kayla, John Rogers, and Charlotte Anderson; great-great-grandchildren: Lucas and Cohen, and Leo and Galilee Kneprath and Reuben Kneprath; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, many lifelong friends.   Allan is preceded in death by his wife, Marvel in 2021; beloved son, Bruce Allan Anderson; parents: Morris and Vera; and three sisters: Betty and infant twin to Betty, and Barbara Splinter. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Pheasants Forever or donor's choice.  

Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in care of arrangements for Allan.