Passing of Lifelong Badgers: Gary and Mary Anderson
With sadness, the family of Mary (Schanke) Anderson ’68 and Gary R. Anderson ’69 share news of their passing. Gary and Mary met as undergraduates at UW–Madison. In a move Mary’s dad was slow to overlook, Mary missed her graduation from the medical technology program and instead got married to Gary on that day. After Gary completed his degree in metallurgical engineering in January 1969, the couple moved to Chicago where they went on to have two sons (Mike and Matt). The young family soon moved to Knoxville, Iowa, where they would happily spend the next 49 years. Gary helped start the 3M plant in Knoxville and worked there is entire career. Once the children were older, Mary returned to work as a medical technologist at the local VA hospital. They became cornerstones of the local community, helping found Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, helping with many school events, and other local volunteering — especially with Rotary and PEO. In later years, they traveled widely, visiting Argentina and South Africa on Rotary Exchange trips, and sight-seeing around the world. However, their favorite retreat through the years was to visit family in Neenah or at a lake in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. They had six grandchildren, who they visited with and spoiled often. After Gary passed in 2022, Mary moved to Iowa City to be closer to family. Mary passed in 2024. Both were lifelong Badgers, flying red and white flags amongst a sea of black and gold in Iowa. The family was happy to gather in Madison in fall of 2024 and share happy memories in front of the Memorial Union – the same place their joyous journey started.
