ANKER ANDERSEN

Anker Andersen Oct 12, 1919 - Oct 2, 2012 Anker left this good life at home with his family in Greenbrae to enter a new life with God. He was born in San Francisco to Ellen and Niels Andersen and raised in the Eureka Valley. He attended Mission High, Graduating in Jun '37 and remained active in his class reunions for 65 years. He always said, "You can take the kid out of the Mission, but you can't take the Mission out of the kid". He was the world's greatest dancer to the big band music of the '30's and '40's and, in his younger days, spent Friday nights at Wolohan's and other ballrooms. Anker was drafted into the US Army in Jun '42 before Pearl Harbor. Prior to going overseas while stationed in San Jose, he met Lee Piccolo at a dance, and they married in Reno while he was on a three-day pass. He knew he was going overseas and didn't want to lose her! This "quickie" wartime marriage, which wasn't supposed to last, lasted for over 69 blissful years! After WWII he went to work for W.P. Fuller & Co. in SF for five years and then became an agent for Allstate Ins. Co. for 42 years, starting at the Sears store on Army Street in SF. Anker was raised in a Danish family and, along with his wife, became active in Ansgar Lutheran Church in SF where he served on the church board for 10 years. He was also on the board of Aldersly Retirement Home for nine years. Anker was a member of Danish Lodge Dania, the Danish Soldiers' Club and Marin Lutheran Church. He and his wife loved to travel and enjoyed 11 world cruises and many trips to their home in Mazatlan Mexico, where they had many family and friends gather. Someone said "They danced around the world". Anker leaves his beautiful loving wife Lee, two daughters, Ellen Coll (Al Riebeling) and Janet Andersen (Larry Stickney), grandchildren Kimberly (Patrick) and Anker, and four great-grandchildren. A celebration of his life will be held Saturday October 13, 3:00 PM at Marin Lutheran Church, 649 Meadowsweet Dr., Corte Madera, CA 94925 with a reception following at the church hall. Bring your memories and stories to share! In lieu of flowers, family members request remembrances be made to Marin Lutheran Church.