Gary Anderson

Gary M. Anderson, age 71 of Melrose, passed away on Friday, March 18, 2011 surrounded by his family at his home in Melrose, Minnesota after a long battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 22 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Albany. Interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery in Melrose.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose and from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday at the church in Albany.

Gary Merlyn Anderson was born November 17, 1939 in Pine City, Minnesota to Albert and Ella (McNeal) Anderson. He spent his childhood in Mora graduating from high school there in 1957. Gary graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota Pharmacy School in 1964. He was united in marriage to Joanne Hesselroth on January 2, 1960 at St. Stephens Lutheran Church in Braham. They made their home in Minneapolis until February of 1965 when they purchased Belgrade Drug in Belgrade. In 1972, they moved to Sheridan, Wyoming and owned a pharmacy there until 1977 when they returned to Minnesota and started the Melrose Clinic Pharmacy. He spent the next 25 years working there and as a pharmacist at the Melrose Hospital. Gary also was the co-owner with his son, Steve, of W & C Apothecary in St. Cloud. He retired and sold the pharmacy in 2001. Gary and Joanne spent winters in Arizona where he played golf and continued his love of pharmacy by working a couple of days a week. He was a low handicap golfer who won his first club championship when he was in high school and won numerous others over the years. Gary and Joanne loved to travel and many of their trips they went on had a round or two of golf on their itinerary, especially his trips to Ireland and Scotland. He loved history, especially the civil war, and made many trips out east to historic battle sites. Gary was an avid reader and collected military miniatures. Most of his life revolved around his children whom he passed on his love of sports. Gary and Joanne spent a lot of time attending their children's and grandchildren's games.

Survivors include his loving wife of 51 years, Joanne Anderson of Melrose; children, Steve (Lisa) Anderson, Nolan, Neal, Lauren, and Sophia of Albany, Tim Anderson, Jordan and Rebecca of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, Kris (Jim) Nevitt, Jameson and Cooper of Indianapolis, Indiana, Kathy (Brian) Bussmann, and Ella of Rogers, Karin (Mourad) Slimani, Massan and Kahina of Minneapolis, and Matt (Cindy) Anderson, Delaney, Shelby, and Connor of Melrose; sister and brother, Jeanne Seline of Mora and James Anderson of St. Cloud; and many loving relatives and friends.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, Allen Anderson and Robert Anderson.

Serving as casket bearers will be Steve Anderson, Tim Anderson, Matt Anderson, Jim Nevitt, Brian Bussmann, Mourad Slimani, Roger Maertens, and Gary Seiler.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.