Donald "Don" Anderson

Donald Dean Anderson passed away peacefully with family by his side at his home, The Willows, on Friday, June 17, 2022. Services for Don will take place on Wednesday, June 22 at 10:30 a.m. at New Hope Christian Church in Marshalltown. Friends and family are also invited to attend a visitation on Tuesday, June 21 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. All attendees are invited to dress in casual attire, sporting Don’s favorite flannel look if willing and able. Memorial contributions may be directed to Don’s family for later designation. For additional questions or condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234. For those unable to attend, services will be available at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell-Family-Funeral-Home-99280714047/. Born Donald Dean Anderson on August 21, 1943 in Marshalltown, Iowa, he was the son of Kenneth and Florence (Burmester) Anderson. After graduating from Marshalltown High School in 1961, he went on to earn his Associate of Arts degree in 1963 from Marshalltown Junior College. He was united in marriage to Barbara Wehrman in 1964 until their divorce in 1973. He was united in marriage to Shirley Desizlets in 1974 until their divorce in 1983. Don wasn’t afraid of hard work and he operated from that work ethic his entire life, starting from an early age. He began working as a stock boy and carryout for Curt’s Royal Blue grocery store before working at Seberg’s Pharmacy, both located on 13th Street. His first full-time position was in the Marshall County Rural Electric Co-Op (Consumers Energy) office as a bookkeeper. Don went on to work in the office of Fisher Governor (Emerson) for one year, followed by Maulsby Electric. In 1971, he became a licensed electrician and joined Brammer Electric as a partner before purchasing the company and renaming it Anderson Electric. In the years that followed, Don owned businesses in the alarm, telephone, travel, and heating and cooling industries. He renovated a gas station to establish and operate The Brew House. His proudest project was building two complexes for retirement housing. He built these for his parents and many others. Don was always looking for ways to help meet the needs of the Marshalltown community. When Don wasn’t hard at work, he made time to give back to his community as well as spend time enjoying the people and activities he loved the most. The real question is what didn’t Don do? He truly did it all! He was a dedicated member of the Marshalltown Evening Lions Club, selling peaches, frozen pies and popcorn. Don had a generous heart and never hesitated to help those in need around him. In his free time, he loved to travel and enjoyed many outdoor activities like snow skiing, water skiing, scuba diving and fishing. Don enjoyed his annual Canada fishing trips, scuba diving in Roatan, snow skiing in Colorado and Utah, watching his grandchildren’s many sporting events, visiting family and friends around the country, and water skiing at Lake Ponderosa with family and friends. Don will long be remembered for nearly always wearing a flannel shirt and making the rounds around town in one of his green Jeeps, overflowing with partially used yellow legal pads with cryptic notes about the many projects he could never say “no” to, handling his businesses or just stopping in to say hello. No matter where he traveled, he inevitably ran into someone he knew and was quick to make new friends. Left to cherish his memory are his four children: Scott (Kim) Anderson of Marshalltown, Deb Anderson-Jaeger of Osceola, Sue (Shea) Mears of Urbandale, and Nikki Anderson-Donathan of Phoenix, Arizona; step-daughter Stacey (Tracy) Desizlets Lobdell; his grandchildren: Christopher (Shayleen) Anderson, Carol (Joe Krier) Anderson, Candace (Adam Blackstock) Anderson, Katelyn (Chris Strawn) Anderson, Jackson Mears, Alex Mears, Laura Jaeger, Allen Jaeger, Paige Donathan, Abigail Donathan, and Jacelyn Donathan; 16 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Keitha Anderson; niece Kendra (Scott) Anderson Zadnik-Davis; and nephew Jason (Jerry King) Anderson. Don has been reunited in heaven with his parents; his brother, Ron Anderson; and grandchildren Cassie and Kenny.