James Arnold Anderson

James Arnold Anderson of La Crosse died Sunday, December 18, at the age of 92, surrounded in love by members of his family. James was born August 15, 1924 in Poynette, WI, to Elmer Anderson and Anna Lyster Anderson. He married Ruth L. Aas, his wife of sixty-six years, on September 5, 1950.

He graduated from Luther College in Decorah, IA and earned the M.A. degree at the University of Minnesota and the Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin, specializing in Rural Sociology.

James taught Sociology at Bethany College in Lindsborg, KS from 1954-1960 and at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse from 1960-1988. During his last four years at UW-L he served as Associate Dean of the College of Arts, Letter, and Sciences. He was a Fellow of the American Sociological Association.

James believed in institutions and worked on their behalf. He served on the Board of Trustees of LaCrosse Lutheran Hospital, the Board of Directors of the La Crosse Lutheran Hospital Foundation, the Board of Trustees of Carthage College in Kenosha, WI, the Board of Trustees of Lutheran Campus Ministry of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, on the Board of Directors of Norskedalen, and on the Church Council of English Lutheran Church, where he was a member for fifty-five years.

He will be remembered as a man who did good work, a man committed to education, a man committed to his community, a man of faith, and a man who loved, and was loved by, his family.

James is survived by his wife of sixty-six years, Ruth L. Anderson; four grateful children: Judy Anderson and husband Kim Brown of Fort Myers, FL; David Anderson and wife Priscilla Paton of Northfield, MN; Paul Anderson and wife Kathy Anderson of Wausau, WI; and Rev. Mark Anderson and wife Beverly Anderson of Waverly, IA; and by five loving grandchildren: James Anderson & wife Ishanaa Rambachan of Washington, DC; Marta Brown of Fort Meyers, FL; Elizabeth Anderson of Washington, DC; Kelly Smisek and husband Andy of San Diego, CA; Kristi Anderson of Wausau, WI; and Michelle Anderson of Minneapolis, MN; and by step-grandchild Samantha Streeter and her children, Macy, Alice, and Mackenzie; by sisters Shirley Benzine of Rio, WI and Joyce Lienke and husband Merlyn of Columbus, WI; by sister-in-law Eunice Anderson of Stoughton, WI, and by many nieces and nephews.
James was preceded in death by his brother Marvin and his sister Arlene.

Both the visitation on Friday, December 23 at 10 a.m. and the funeral service to follow at 11:00 A.M. will be held at English Lutheran Church in La Crosse. Pastor Mark Solyst will officiate. A private burial will occur later in the day in Westby, WI.
The Schumacher-Kish Funeral & Cremation Service of La Crosse is in charge of arrangements. Online guestbook is available at www.schumacher-kish.com.

Memorials may be given to the Mission Endowment Fund of English Lutheran Church in lieu of flowers.