Andy Anderson

On Friday, August 23, 2019, Andy Anderson, husband, father, grandpa, great-grandpa, uncle and great uncle, went to be with his Heavenly Father at the age of 84 years. He was born on February 26, 1935, to Leonard LaVerne, Sr. and Ruthie Virginia (Ray) Anderson in their home in Wichita. The family moved to Salina, KS for about two years while he was a young child. Back in Wichita he attended Arkansas Avenue Elementary, Horace Mann Intermediate, and graduated from Wichita High School North in 1953. Andy was active in football, baseball, and instrumental and vocal music. He reveled in having been coached by the legendary Monk Edwards at North High in both football and baseball and enjoyed the reputation of being a big hitter on the baseball team; which served him well as he was not a very fast runner!

After high school, Andy attended Wichita State University. He also began singing in a popular quartet, the Rubaiyats, performing for various events and in several venues around the Wichita area. It was during this time he met Janice Hull, a student at St. Francis School of Nursing, on a blind-date. They were later married on October 17, 1959. Andy initially worked as a draftsman at Boeing Aircraft Company and was promoted to Structural Engineer upon graduating with his Bachelor of Arts in Math & Physics. While working at Boeing, Andy also earned his Masters’ degree in Engineering Mechanics from Wichita State. At Boeing his nickname “Andy” took hold and became the moniker his friends would use the rest of his life. He loved the comradery with likeminded coworkers, several of which were avid fishermen and who introduced him to Grand Lake of the Cherokees in Oklahoma. Grand Lake became the epicenter for fun, sport, projects, and leisure all through his married, child rearing, and most of his retired life. Endless fond memories are centered around times at Grand Lake with family and friends.

After 20 years at Boeing, he was self-employed as a consultant for a couple of years before joining the faculty of the Wichita State University School of Engineering, where he also became involved in research with the Rehabilitation Engineering Center at Wichita; a collaborative effort with the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation of Kansas. He eventually accepted a full-time position as Director of Engineering with CPRFK. It was from there Andy retired in 1998 as Vice President of Technical Services. His years with CPRFK were the most fulfilling and rewarding of his working life. He remained involved with the Rehabilitation Engineering Center and became a founding member of the Rehabilitation Engineering Society of North America, RESNA, eventually being honored as a RESNA Fellow in recognition of years of service and innovation with the thriving organization. Many of his dearest professional friendships were formed through his involvement with RESNA.

Aside from work were his deepest and dearest loves: His family and his faith in Jesus Christ. Birthdays, holidays, and any other reason to gather with family were cherished and he loved to hear of all the activities and accomplishments of his kids and grandkids and he often attended whatever event they had going on. Church life was consistently woven through most aspects of family and personal life. Andy taught Sunday School, “Memorize the Word”, and other classes for over 50 years at Immanuel Baptist Church, as well as noon-time Bible studies and scripture memory to coworkers while at Boeing.  He was an ordained deacon and served on virtually every committee (some for multiple terms) in the church. He loved to sing and play French-horn in the church orchestra, which he did until June 30 of this year. He took great joy and expressed many times how blessed he was that all his kids and grandkids also shared the faith that made him whole.

A profoundly defining event occurred in Andy’s life on July 1, 1973, when both his parents were unexpectedly and suddenly killed. In many ways that event shaped the rest of his life and earned him an enormous amount of respect for his resolve, temperament, introspection, and faith. Janice and their children learned, under some of the worst circumstances, what a rock and deeply reliable man he was. Many even outside his family knew Andy was a man you could lean on in your most difficult times and especially as a loyal and caring friend.

He will be forever be remembered by his wife of nearly 60 years and best friend Jan, and their precious children, Mike (Janet) Anderson, DeDe (Scot) Pierce, Ronnie Anderson, and Linda (Darrell) Cress. Their nine grandchildren are Brandon, Austin, and Colin, children of Mike and Janet; Paige, Brookelyn, and Drew, children of Scot and DeDe; and Dori, Mark, and Aaron, children of Darrell and Linda. Six great grandchildren are Maddox, Mikah, Cole, Gavyn, Elijah, and Ricky. The balance of immediate family is sister, Jackie (Dan) Duckett; nephew Brad (Paula) Duckett; niece Julie (Scott) Mulder and their families.  He was preceded in death by his parents Leonard, Sr. and Ruthie Anderson. Andy will also be forever remembered by his extended family and numerous dear, dear friends.

Visitation with family will be held on Thursday, August 29, from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Immanuel Baptist Church in the Worship Center foyer, 1415 S. Topeka, Wichita, KS. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, August 31, at 10:30 a.m., also at Immanuel Baptist Church in the Worship Center. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established with Immanuel Baptist Church and Gideons International. Share condolences at www.CozineMemorial.com. Services by Broadway Mortuary.