James Howard Anderson

James "Jim" Anderson James Howard Anderson, 78, of Esko, MN passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, November 26, 2016, surrounded by his family. Death was the combined result of several severe ailments. He had been in the care of in-home hospice for most of the last month. Jim was born in Moose Lake, MN on January 11, 1938 to Alvin and Mabel (Lind) Anderson, the 6th of 8 children. He attended Central Elementary School east of Barnum and Barnum High School. At age 15, he went to work at the Diamond Match mill in Cloquet. In 1958, he enlisted in the Army, 2nd Armored Cavalry, and served in Germany, patrolling near the Russian border and received his Honorable Discharge in 1962. In 1963, he married Dianne Rogers in Barnum, MN. They had two sons, Todd and Mark. After that marriage ended, he married Sandra Marks Westendorf in 1967 in Carlton, MN. They lived in Blackhoof Township and Cloquet. During that time, Jim worked at Weyerhaeuser Shipping Container Division in Cloquet until the plant left the area. Then Jim returned to school at Pine Technical Institute and received a Certificate in Auto Mechanics. After graduating, they moved to Virginia Beach, VA in 1984, and Jim went to work for Norfolk Public Schools Transportation Department helping to maintain their fleet of 200 school buses. He retired from that job in 2003, and in 2005, Jim and Sandy moved back to Minnesota to be closer to family and bought a home near Esko. In his younger years, Jim loved to hunt and fish. Camping and traveling were also favorite activities, as well as, playing guitar and singing country songs, attending Blue Grass festivals and Cousins Club. Jim also enjoyed feeding and watching his backyard "critters". Preceding him in death are his parents; his son, Mark; brothers, Kenneth and Jerry; sister, Corinne; brother-in-law, Jalmer "Dick" Skoglund; and niece, Susan Skoglund Matlock. He mourned his beloved little black dog, Heather, who once saved Jim's life when he was having a heart attack by alerting Sandy in time to call an ambulance. Jim is survived by his wife, Sandy, of Esko; son, Todd (Deb) Anderson of Waukesha, WI; Todd's children, Natalie Jo Anderson, and her daughter, Sophie Jo, and Nathan Anderson; Deb's son, Michael Bina; step-daughter, Laurie (Keith) McKibbon of Esko; step-son, Gordon (Cindy Roden) Westendorf, Jr. of Duluth and their children, Micayla, Brianna, Kiara, Garrett, and Joshua. Also surviving are his sisters, Carol Skoglund of Barnum, Betty (William) Lundgren of Duluth, and Judy Lyndon of Albuquerque, NM; brother, Bill Anderson of Nashville, TN; Todd and Mark's mother, Dianne Mayorga of Pewaukee, WI; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, as well as his well-loved cat, Lucky. The family would like to thank the Essentia-Duluth Drs. Maddy and Rich for their help and kindness throughout the years and the wonderful folks at Essentia Hospice for their help during these last weeks. In keeping with Jim's wishes, there will be no funeral service.