John Thomas Anderson, Sr.

John Thomas Anderson, Sr. Marion ---John Thomas “JT” Anderson, Sr., 87, passed away at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 21, 2011 at Heartland Regional Medical Center, with his loved ones at his side. Visitation will be Saturday, May 28, 2011, from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM at Blue Funeral Home in Marion. The funeral will follow immediately at 1:00 PM with the Reverend Tim Ozment, Pastor of Aldersgate UMC, officiating. Interment will be held in Maplewood Cemetery in Marion, where Military Rites will be conducted by the VFW Post 1301, American Legion Post 147 and the National Guard. Memorial donations may be made to the Disabled American Veterans; envelopes are available during the services or may be sent C/O Blue Funeral Home, P.O. Box 411, Marion, IL, 62959. John was born on January 10, 1924 in West Frankfort to Thomas and Matilda (Vaughn) Anderson. He was raised by his mother and loving step-father L.R. Boatright. He is survived by his loving wife and life partner of 67 years, Betty Kelley Anderson, and two sons, John T. “Tom” Anderson, Jr. (wife Vicki), of Marion and Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Terry D. Anderson (wife Cathy), of Divernon; grand-daughter Amy O’Neal (Creston) and great-grand-daughter Lexi of Casa Grande, AZ; grandson BM2 John T. Anderson, III (Michelle) and great grandchildren Hailey, Dylan and Aniston of Edwardsville; grand-daughters Emily Anderson of Divernon and Kelley Anderson of Marion and grandson Ian Anderson of Divernon; brothers Reverend Fred M. Boatright of St. Charles, MO, Thomas B. Anderson of Price, UT, Robert W. Anderson and Dennis Anderson both of Las Vegas, NV; sister Lyn Shirky of Pahrump, NV. He also leaves a large extended family of many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, George Roger Anderson; sisters Betty R. Sheffler, Janice Simpson, and Emma Jean Taylor; as well as his brother-in-law and dearest friend, A. Lavern Kelley and brother-in-law Donald Sheffler. JT was a veteran of WWII and Korea, as an officer serving as navigator on B17 and B29 Bombers. He was a 32nd Degree Mason, private pilot who loved flying his own plane and giving friends and family many “thrill rides”, former Chief of the Office of Housing & Buildings for the State of Illinois, appointed by Gov. James R. Thompson, Housing Consultant for wide variety of public housing units in many Illinois towns, appointed by President Ronald Reagan as Region 5 FEMA Director, two time candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives and was Republican State Central Committeeman and voted in the presidential electoral college to elect George H. W. Bush. He was the former owner of Anderson Aluminum Products, Anderson Building Materials, and the Citadel Building. He founded the American Association of Professional Salesmen. He served as Co-Chairman of the Citizens Advisory Committee that helped establish John A. Logan College. After WWII he was an avid HAM Radio operator and owned a radio repair business. He could possibly be thought of as one of the earliest recyclers in our area, vigilant to not waste even the smallest useful piece. He was also the equivalent almost to a human sponge as he soaked up knowledge in a variety of areas, including hypnosis, by observation, reading, and just envisioning something and then just making it work. He joined the Old Central Methodist Church on March 24, 1940 in West Frankfort at the age of 16. He married Betty Louise Kelley on February 16, 1945 in West Frankfort. He was a Christian, leaving his family with a peaceful certainty of knowing he left their hands and went home to the loving hands of his Heavenly Father.