Eugene Alfred Anderson

Born: March 16, 1926; in Detroit
Died: May 18, 2011; in Geneva

Eugene Alfred Anderson, 85, died May 18, 2011, at Delnor Hospital in Geneva, after a 27-year battle with cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Gene was born on March 16, 1926, in Detroit, to Alfred and Rose Anderson of Chicago.

Growing up in Chicago and Elmhurst, he graduated from York High School in 1943. He is survived by Arlene, his wife of 61 years; son David (Sharon Tremble) Anderson of Occidental, Calif.; daughter Diane (Ed) Dewell of Batavia; sister-in-law Norma Roman of Addison; and two kitties.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Daniel.

Enlisting in the Army Corps of Engineers, he served in the Pacific in World War II. On Guam, he worked in the supply depot and was a trained demolition expert.

After the war, he studied at the University of Illinois prior to joining his father's business, Anderson Manufacturing & Engineering, where he designed and manufactured special machinery for paper handling. They were a successful team and held several patents relating to their products.

In 1956, Gene and his young family moved to Lombard where he sang bass in the West Towns Barbershop Chorus and coached Babe Ruth baseball.

In 1981, Gene and Arlene moved to St. Charles. He volunteered at Delnor, serving over 6,500 hours, in the library, driving the mobile mammography van and doing patient transportation.

He was a very active member of Mended Hearts for over 25 years, visiting cardiac patients and serving as editor of the newsletter.

A long-suffering Cubs fan, he enjoyed music, antique cars, politics, computer solitaire, nature and feeding and watching the birds. He had a keen sense of humor and was partial to puns.

He enjoyed traveling with his wife, touring the country by car and visiting his cousins in Sweden.

He was extremely grateful for the medical advances that allowed him to live such a long and good life, so he proudly donated his body to science.

A memorial service will be held on June 26 , 2011, at the Peg Bond Center on the Riverwalk the in Batavia, from 1 to 5 p.m. Friends and family are invited to join us to celebrate his life.

Gene was allergic to flowers and would prefer contributions to the charity of your choice.

Organizations that were meaningful to him include Delnor Hospital Foundation, Mended Hearts and the American Diabetes Association.