Pastor G. Anderson

Rev. Gerald E. Anderson

Gerald E. (Jerry) Anderson was born on April 12, 1934 and raised on a farm about 9 miles west of Neenah, Wisconsin.  He was baptized at Grace Lutheran Church of Winchester and was active with his family in that parish.  He attended Town Line, a little one room country grade school, and then moved on for 2 years at Winneconne High where he was active in athletics, forensics and band.  He transferred to Augustana Academy, a Lutheran high school in Canton, South Dakota, and graduated from there in 1952.

He went to Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, for 2 years and transferred to St. Olaf in Northfield, Minnesota.  He graduated from there with a B.A. degree in 1956.   It was in a Norwegian class there that he met Sharon Sleeper, and after a whirlwind (???) courtship of over 2 ½ years, got married to her on June 8, 1957.

He went to Luther Seminary in St. Paul for his theological education and graduated with a Bachelor of Theology degree in 1960.  His internship was at Strand Lutheran in Dunbar, Iowa.

He was called to Grace Lutheran in Alpena, Michigan, and was ordained at Grace Lutheran of Winchester on June 26, 1960.  He served in Alpena until 1964; at Vernon Lutheran, Mukwonago, WI until ’67; at West Koshkonong until ’76;  at St. Peter in Fennimore until 1984, and at Christ the King, Port Washington until he retired in ‘99.

They have four children:

Deb was born in Iowa in 1958. She married Robert Benada, a NASA physicist. Deb is a R.N and worked many years in the Los Angeles area before moving to Waupaca where they ran a bed and breakfast for 11 years. They now live in Neenah, WI.
Ruth was born in Michigan in 1961, is married to Marshal Thomas, a business consultant. She is the Minister of Music at Holy Trinity Lutheran in Akron, OH.
Mark was born in Michigan in 1963 and married Melanie Antuma, a pharmacist. They live in Arlington Heights, IL. Mark works in financial aids at Lake Forest College in IL. Mark has 3 daughters and 3 stepdaughters.
Mike was born in Waukesha in 1966. He teaches high school physics and earth science in Fox Lake, IL. He married Lynn Gafney, also a teacher. They live in Lake Villa, IL and have a son and a daughter.

Jerry and Sharon are members of First English Lutheran in Appleton. They attend adult studies. She is part of a women’s circle, and helps out with funeral fellowship meals. He sings in choir. She goes to the “Y” for water exercise about 5 days a week weather permitting. He has over 17,000 miles on his exercycle and likes cross country skiing in the winter. Sharon quilts with a group at church. Both help out at the church’s thrift store, and once a month prepare and serve food at the Salvation Army. He tutors readers at a Neenah grade school. He enjoys reading, fishing, golfing, gardening, and everything about his season tickets to the Packers ---except paying for them.