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In Memoriam

Richard J. "Jerry" Anderson - Class Of 1944 VIEW PROFILE

Richard Jerome Anderson class of 1944 Lawyer/Judge, of Lakeland, FL passed away on January 6, 2025. Richard was born on August 27, 1926, to Willard C. and Thelma King Anderson in Columbus, Ohio. His parents, son David, and brother Tom predeceased him.

He is survived by his wife Marie (Sally) Anderson, son Mark (Karen) Anderson, and daughter-in-law Yvonne Anderson, grandsons Matthew (Amber) Anderson, Sean Anderson, Adam Anderson, stepdaughters Jeri Sue Hollister-Bray (R. Thomas) and Annette Claire Hollister-Papp (Robert J.), and great grandchildren Owen Anderson, Brooklyn Anderson, and Marley Anderson.

Richard or "Jerry" as he was known by some, attended Okemos High School where he graduated in 1944. After graduation, he had his parents sign permission to allow him to enlist in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17.

After completing basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Chicago, Illinois, he was sent to radio school at the University of Wisconsin where he learned message encryption.

He was assigned to duty aboard the destroyer, Douglas J. Fox DD779, and served in the Pacific theater of operations. Upon cessation of hostilities, he was assigned to Com. Cinc. Pac in Hawaii on the staff of Admiral Chester Nimitz.
Upon discharge in 1946, he attended Michigan State University under the G.I. Bill. He graduated from Michigan State in 1950. He then attended law School at the University of Detroit.

He married Elaine Motcheck in June 1951. His son, Mark, was born August 1, 1954, in Detroit. After passing the bar in 1954, he moved back to Lansing in 1956 to begin working for the Michigan State Accident Fund. His son, David, was born March 15, 1958. In November 1961, he left the Accident Fund to start his own law firm in Lansing.
He was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court in 1964. His firm grew to 14 attorneys. Richard's son, Mark, joined the firm in 1980.

Upon retiring from the firm, Michigan Governor Engler appointed Anderson to be an Administrative Law Judge where he presided over worker's compensation cases until his ultimate retirement in April 2000.

Richard married Marie C. (Sally) Hollister (nee Kaczynski) in August of 1993, and they moved to Florida in 2000. They shared an active retirement, traveling and playing golf throughout the world, enjoying gardening, landscaping, and playing bridge. Richard and Sally were active volunteers with Volunteer Guardian Ad Litem program in Bartow, Florida. He remembered fondly the many children that they helped to adjust to their lives in foster care.

A funeral service will be held on February 13th at St. John Neuman Catholic Church in Lakeland, FL. Interment will be on February 14th at the Florida National Cemetery at Sarasota, Florida.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Richard's name to Youth Haven, an organization serving disadvantaged children, where Richard served as a board member for over 30 years. Donations may be made online at https://www.youthhaven.org/donate, or by mail: National Ministry Office, Michigan Campus, PO Box 97, Rives Jct., MI 49277

Published by Grand Rapids Press from Jan. 20 to Jan. 23, 2025.


Published June 26, 1945 Lansing State Journal


Published July 1, 1946 Lansing State Journal


Published May 16, 1950 Lansing State Journal


Published June 11, 1953 Lansing State Journal


Published Mar 28, 1950 Lansing State Journal


Published August 1, 1961 Lansing State Journal


Published April 7, 1963 Lansing State Journal


Published June 11, 1968 Lansing State Journal


Published September 11, 1968 Lansing State Journal


Published February 10, 1971 Lansing State Journal


Published August 1, 1961 Lansing State Journal


Published July 15, 2014 Lansing State Journal - Obituary of son David


 

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/grandrapids/name/richard-anderson-obituary?id=57319838



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