William M. "Bill" Anderson

William "Bill" M. Anderson, age 88, of Jackson, passed away in the early hours of Sunday Nov. 12, 2023.
The grandson of John and Marie Anderson, who migrated from Finland in the 1880s, where they lived on the family farm on Anderson Road in Baldwin Township, the son of Edwin and Luella Anderson, who lived out their lives in a home they built on Anderson Road, are buried in Greenwood Cemetery in East Tawas.
Bill had just turned seven years old the morning Pearl Harbor was attacked on Dec. 7, his birthday. This coincidence, spurred a lifelong interest in the history of this period. Watching the movie Tora, Tora, Tora on his birthday became a yearly ritual.
As a child, he delivered the morning newspaper in the dark before school. He was Confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church and graduated from East Tawas High School in 1952. He enlisted in the Army and served in the Armored Tank Division causing his need for hearing aids later in life.
He was employed by the IRS for 31 years as a Field Agent serving out of offices in Cadillac, Grand Rapids and Jackson auditing large cases throughout the state. Following his retirement, he worked at Hills Brothers Short Course and Driving Range for 21 years and volunteered his time and talents delivering Meals on Wheels and working at the Immanuel Lutheran Church Food Pantry. In his spare time, Bill enjoyed playing golf, bowling and woodworking.
He was preceded in death by his parents as well as his older brother, Rick, and Rick's first wife, Chris, and their younger brother, Mike. He is survived by his wife of 58 1/2 years, Joyce (Werkema); two sons, Michael and his wife, Kim, of Livonia and Jon (Monte) and his wife, Amy, of Byron Center; four grandchildren, Derek, Colin and then Deanna and Kaleb respectively; two great grandchildren, Ian and Taryn; and sisters-in law, Kathy (Palmer) and Martha Anderson.
Services will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1505 W. Michigan Avenue, Jackson, on Sunday, Nov. 19 at 3 p.m. with visitation beginning at 2 p.m. An Internment Service will be held on Dec. 7, at Fair Plains Cemetery, in Grand Rapids. Memorials may be made to the Immanuel Lutheran Church Food Pantry.
Please express your condolences to the family at www.watson-funeral-chapels.com.