Joel Anderson, 69, Bricelyn

Published 9:33 am Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Joel Howard Anderson, 69, of Bricelyn, died Sunday, March 13, 2011, at his home surrounded by family after a brief fight with cancer. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Bricelyn Lutheran Church in Bricelyn. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Bricelyn, and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. The Rev. Luther Peterson will officiate and a burial will take place in Bricelyn Lutheran Cemetery, Bricelyn, Faribault County.

Anderson

Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Bricelyn is assisting the family with arrangements.

Joel was born July 12, 1941, in Albert Lea, the son of H. Alvin and Alice (Armstrong) Anderson. He graduated from Bricelyn High School in 1959, and enlisted in the United States Air Force. He was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base where he was an aircraft mechanic for the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. He was honorably discharged. He then attended the School of Barbering in St. Paul, graduating in 1970. On Oct. 30, 1971, he married Shirley Mae Hamsund at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Kiester. The two returned to Bricelyn to farm. Joel also worked at Larson Windows, retiring in 2005. He enjoyed farming and checking everyone’s crops. He enjoyed fishing, John Wayne movies, air shows, and jets and planes. He loved his grandchildren.

Joel is survived by his wife, Shirley, of Bricelyn; one daughter, Alison (Kevin) Steinhauer, of Frost; one son, Craig (Amy) Anderson, of Wells; and four grandchildren: Trevor, Lizzy, Matthew and Laura; mother-in-law, Arlene Hamsund, of Kiester; brother-in-law, Robert (Joyce) Hamsund, of Albert Lea. He is also survived by many nephews and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Rodney Anderson; and his father-in-law, Maynard Hamsund.