Rolf M. Anderson

GALVA- Rolf M. Anderson, 87, of Galva, died at 11:47 p.m., Monday, October 2, 2023 at his home.

Cremation will be accorded and memorial services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, October 7 at Rux Funeral Home in Galva where military rites will be accorded by the Galva Fusiliers. Pastor Karen Martin will officiate. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services at the funeral home. Private inurnment will be in Galva Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Galva American Legion Post 45 or to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

He was born March 24, 1936 in Kewanee the son of Harold A. and Geneva L. (Peterson) Anderson. Rolf married Elaine (Freeberg) Gerard on October 4, 1966. Survivors include his wife of Galva, his son, Eric (Kris) Anderson of Galva and two stepsons; Donald (Connie) Gerard of Galva and Kevin (Jane) Gerard of Kewanee. Also surviving are ten grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, and a brother, Milton (Nancy) Anderson of Davenport, IA. He was preceded in death by his parents, a stepson, Bruce Gerard, and a great grandson.

Rolf graduated from Galva High School in 1954 and from Bradley University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1958 After college he took a job as a design engineer for gear cutting tools at the Michigan Tool Co. in Detroit and then later took a position with WABCO in Peoria as project manager. He and his brother Milt eventually started a family business called Anderson Implement Inc. and Galva Auto Sales later moving the business to Kewanee as Anderson Dodge. After selling the business, Rolf worked at Pearson Bros. American Machine as an engineer and sales manager. Upon leaving Pearson, Rolf took a job as a program manager with the Department of Defense retiring in 1999. He had also worked at the Galva Creamery.

Rolf served in the U.S. Air Force and was a member of the Galva American Legion. He was also a member of Grace United Methodist Church in which he held several offices and was a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers, American Welding Society and other professional societies and many local clubs.

He loved his family and enjoyed fishing and camping, tinkering in his shop and the many trips to Canada with his family and the many trips for many years with a group of guys.

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