Obituary of James Edward Anderson

James “Jim” Edward Anderson, 93, of Niles, passed away on Thursday, September 10, 2020, at his home. He was born on October 15, 1926, in South Bend, Indiana to Leo P. and Frances (Hamilton) Anderson. Jim grew up in Niles, Michigan, except for four years, in which he lived in Buchanan, Michigan. He graduated from Buchanan High School in 1944, where he played football and basketball. During WWII he served in the United States Navy, spending fourteen months in the Pacific with his tour of duty taking him to Pearl Harbor, the Philippines, and Japan. He attended Michigan State University and graduated in 1950, with a Bachelor of Science in Food Technology. In 1967 Jim received his Masters in Education from Sam Houston State College in Huntsville, Texas. On June 14, 1952, he married the former Sarah Miller in Jackson, Michigan. This union was blessed with three children; Valerie in 1954, Jerry in 1956, and Philip in 1958. Jim was a loving and devoted husband, and father. After college, Jim spent two years working for Kraft Foods at their research center in Chicago. They moved to Niles to raise their family, where he spent ten years running Anderson’s Grocery. He later went into teaching, he taught for a total of twenty-five years at Brandywine Community Schools, where he was a Junior High math teacher, during that time he coached boys and girls basketball. He loved teaching, and he really enjoyed his students. Jim was active in bowling at White’s and enjoyed playing golf at Hampshire and Juday Creek. Later in life, he greatly enjoyed reading and working puzzles. He and his daughter had an ongoing daily competition that he relished. Memorial contributions in his memory may be directed to the American Heart Association. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Sarah “Sally” Anderson; brother, J. Louis (Eve) Anderson; and sister, Winifred (Burt) Burton. Jim is survived his daughter, Valerie Anderson; sons, Jerry Anderson, and Philip (Tammy) Anderson; grandchildren, Kayla Gonyon, Derek Gonyon, Tara (Casey) McCarty-Hunsberger, and Dustin (Elizabeth) Anderson; great-grandchildren, Logan Hunsberger, Ava Hunsberger, Selah Anderson, Dahlia Anderson, Azalea Anderson, and Remington Anderson; along with many nieces and nephews. In keeping with his wishes cremation has taken place, and he will be laid to rest at Calvary Cemetery with a private family service, at a later date. Condolences, photos, and memories can be left for Jims’ family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles.