John Russell Anderson

Ames John R. Anderson, 71, formerly of Harcourt, passed away, Wednesday August 23, 2023 at Israel Family Hospice House in Ames. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Monday, August 28, 2023, at Memorial Lutheran Church, Ames, with Pastor David Beagley, Pastor Mark Heilman, and Pastor Tyler Rasmussen officiating. Burial will be in Lost Grove Township Cemetery in Harcourt. There will be a visitation from 2:00 to 4:00 PM Sunday, August 27, 2023, at Memorial Lutheran Church in Ames. There will be an additional visitation Monday at the church from 10:00 AM until service time. Palmer Funeral Home, Gowrie is in charge of arrangements. John Russell "Cookie" Anderson, son of Norman and Ruth Nomsen Smith Anderson was born on December 12, 1951 in Fort Dodge. John graduated from Central Webster High School, Burnside in 1970 and Iowa Central Community College in 1972. He later attended Iowa State University in Ames. Johns interests included 4-H Activities especially being an International 4-H Youth Exchange Delegate to Venezuela. He also played various instruments, including the clarinet, oboe, saxophone, handbells and John was a drum major. He enjoyed gardening (but not weeding) and he had a passion for raising chickens. He was noted for his cooking and baking expertise. He shared his talent with numerous camps, institutions, churches, and sororities before finding his home at the Beta Sigma Psi Epsilon Fraternity and Memorial Lutheran Church in Ames. During his tenure, he provided countless meals for gatherings and events. He was a great mentor and counselor for the men of Beta Sigma Psi. Other employment prior to this included time with the Northrup King and Pioneer Hi-Bred International Seed Companies. John is survived by his brother Robert and his wife Charlene of rural Harcourt, niece Karina Buttler and her husband Chris and their son Kye of Ames, nephew Eric Anderson of Indianapolis, IN, niece Kallen Augustad and her husband Paul of Spirit Lake, the hundreds of college students that passed through the "Beta Sig" house in Ames, and other relatives and friends. Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family. The funeral services will be live-streamed through Memorial Lutheran Churchs website. SERVICES Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Monday, August 28, 2023, at Memorial Lutheran Church, Ames OFFICIATING Pastor David Beagley, Pastor Mark Heilman, and Pastor Tyler Rasmussen VISITATION There will be a visitation from 2:00 to 4:00 PM Sunday, August 27, 2023, at Memorial Lutheran Church in Ames. There will be an additional visitation Monday at the church from 10:00 AM until service time. INTERMENT Burial will be in Lost Grove Township Cemetery in Harcourt