Obituary Record

Robert Preston Anderson
Died on 11/16/2009
Buried in Kennard Cemetery

In loving memory Robert Preston Anderson 1920 - 2009

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Robert Preston Anderson on November 16th, 2009, at the age of 89 years.

Bob was born in Kennard, Nebraska, on June 26th, 1920, and was living in Panama City Beach Florida at the time of his death.

After graduating from high school Bob married his home town sweetheart, Betty Jane Johnson and spent his summers in the Nebraska National Guard. The day after Pearl Harbor his entire Medical Services Company went to Kansas where they became part of the 3rd Division and was deployed overseas. After dealing with the carnage of the landings on the beaches on D Day, Bob transferred to the infantry retaining his First Sergeant’s status and fought his way to Germany, participating in the Hedgerows, Battle of the Bulge, and Liberation of Concentration Camps. After the war Bob stayed in the Army Reserve, finally retiring as an officer in the late 1950's.

As a young husband and father Bob, worked hard to pay his way through San Francisco State University and even played football for his team. He became an enthusiastic Junior High school teacher and loved to coach sports. He earned a Master’s Degree in Physical Education in Southern California and taught at Pomona and Gary High Schools. His summers were spent running a travelling boys’ camp called “Jeep’s Trails” and it was on one of these camping trips, returning from Alaska, that he discovered Agate Bay Hunting and Fishing Resort on Adams Lake. He immediately fell in love with the area, purchased the resort and moved his family to Canada in the spring of 1964.

For the next 30 summers Bob ran Agate Bay Resort and thoroughly enjoyed the hunting, fishing, and farming that his home and area had to offer. One of his passions was supporting the Barriere Lions Club of which he was a long time active member and president. His winters were spent teaching and from 1972 to 1980. He was principal at Barriere Secondary School. We are sure that his students will remember him, and his coworkers for their ambitious undertakings that made attending his school a positive experience. Shop classes that built homes, tree planting crews who earned money for school vans, and who can forget the agriculture classes where he allowed students to wash their show lambs in the change room showers. He taught his students to be proud of their school and generated great “school spirit”.

When Bob retired as principal he continued to live a very active life. He was even still slalom waterskiing in his late 70’s! He spent the winter months in California where he and his wife performed in the Indio Date Festival Theatrical Choir, volunteered for many tennis and golfing tournaments and were active members of the St. Andrews Presbyterian Church. Bob loved volunteering for the “Bob Hope Chrysler Golf Tournament” and dedicated the next 25 winters of his life as a Marshall Volunteer eventually becoming Marshall Chairman.

Bob is survived by his three children Sherrie Gooder of Atlanta, Georgia, (husband Gary, grandchildren Kevin, Cory, Lisa and 8 great- grandchildren), Robert Anderson Jr. of Adams Lake (wife Beverly, grandchildren Jill, Hawley, Robyn and 6 great- grandchildren), and Abbie Anderson of Guam (husband William Craig, grandchildren Elizabeth, Stephanie, Jessecca, and one great grandchild). Bob was predeceased by his loving wife of 50 years, Betty Jane, his brother James Anderson and his sister Ella Sue Smith.

“Bob Who” of which our father was affectionately called is our Agate Bay Icon. We can only hope that we have inherited his stamina for a long, active life… we love you dad.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain, I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush, I am the swift, uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not think of me as gone - I am with you still - in each new dawn." records.

PUBLISHED http://www.bclocalnews.com/bc_thompson_nicola/barrierestarjournal/obituaries/?cmpRegion=&paper=4&name=anderson&paperSelect=4

Note: Robert is buried in Blk 6 Lot 12 Space 2W, in the Kennard Cemetery, Washington County, NE per Cemetery records.

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