Obituary of Willard Darrel Anderson

Willard Darrel Anderson, age 75, of North Branch, Minnesota died unexpectedly Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center after a short hospital stay. He was born July 28, 1947 in Plum City, Wisconsin and grew up in Spring Valley, Wisconsin.

Willard married Patricia Schwartz in Saint Paul, Minnesota on September 30, 1967. He was a Vietnam veteran and was proud of his service in the Navy on the USS Iwo Jima and the USS Dubuque. He enjoyed being outdoors, building birdhouses and talking to family and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Orin and Alice Anderson; his brothers Orlin and Calvin Anderson; parents-in-law Joseph and Helen Schwartz; and siblings-in-law Doug DeLong, Linda Anderson, Diane Anderson, Leroy and Victoria Rigdon, and Raymond Schwartz.

Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Patricia; 5 children: Laura (Steve) Zupon of Forest Lake, Tony Anderson of Columbia Heights, Robin Anderson of Forest Lake, Jason Anderson of Saint Paul and Shanon Anderson of Forest Lake; 4 grandchildren: Hannah, Sophie, Violet and Ellen Zupon; siblings: Lorraine DeLong of Elmwood, WI, Ron (Arlene) Anderson of Hibbing, Don Anderson of Hudson, WI, Carol Schilling of Spring Valley, Crystal (Terry) Lubich of Roberts, WI, Doyle Anderson of Spring Valley, Gary (Becky) Anderson of Elmwood, and Barb Anderson of Ellsworth, WI; siblings-in-law Connie Anderson of Spring Valley, Dennis (Lori) Schwartz of Barnum and Billy (Barb) Schwartz of Scandia; many nieces, nephews and friends.

Thank you to the staff at the VA Medical Center for making Willard’s last days comfortable.

In respect of Willard’s wishes, no funeral or memorial service will be held. He will be interned at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at a future date.