Wilford Anderson Obituary

Wilford Robert Anderson passed away Friday, December 27, at Luther Manor in Dubuque.
Wil was born on February 21, 1927, on the South East Side of Chicago, Illinois, son of Ernest and Helna Anderson, first generation Swedish immigrants. He was active at Bethel Evangelical Free Church where he accepted the Lord in 1939. After high school graduation, he entered the Coast Guard and was stationed in Puerto Rico during World War II. After being discharged, he enrolled at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas where Nancy, his childhood sweetheart, was already studying. They were married on June 14, 1947. He graduated in 1950 with a BA in Bible.
Wil then studied at Trinity Bible Institute in Chicago and was ordained in 1951; in 1952, he and Nancy followed the Lord's leading by serving as missionaries under the Evangelical Free Church in Venezuela. He pastored churches in El Socorro, Maracay, and Caracas; he wrote scripts for radio programs; he helped start a Bible camp; he taught in a Bible institute and the Seminario Evangelico Asociado where he also served as rector; he authored several books; and he was a much sought after youth conference speaker. During these years, he completed a MDiv (1964), ThM in Practical Theology (1969), and a DMin (1984), all at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. However, as a dad, Friday afternoons and many Saturdays were reserved to take his four children and their friends fishing, swimming, or to the beach.
In 1989, Wil and Nancy moved to Miramar, Florida. He taught at the Trinity International University campus in Florida; served Reachglobal (EFCA International Mission) and the EFCA Southeast District by assisting various Hispanic churches; he made four trips to Cuba to speak at church camps, teach at a seminary, and give conferences; he also traveled to Haiti multiple times to teach and preach; he was active in the Miramar Evangelical Free Church. Now as a grampa, he derived great joy taking his children and a growing number of grandsons fishing and to the beach – but with his boat, the Selah.
In 2007, Wil and Nancy moved to Dubuque, Iowa to be closer to family. During these years he treasured the Anderson family reunions in Ludington, Michigan and in Dubuque. He authored two books about his ministry in Venezuela and trips to Cuba; he wrote poetry and composed songs; he learned how to make videos on his computer and created many clips for his family and friends from a lifetime of photographs and videos; and he was active at Hope Church. Wil and Nancy celebrated their 75th anniversary in 2022. Later that year, they moved to Luther Manor where he wrote his final book, a devotional entitled, In His Hands.
On Friday, December 27, he went to be with the Lord whom he had served throughout his life; and he was also reunited with Nancy, his love of 77 years, who had preceded him by 25 days.
Wilford is survived by his children, Keith (Judy) Anderson of Palatine, Illinois, Kurt (Peggy) Anderson of Trevor, Wisconsin, Kent (Ann) Anderson of Dubuque, and Karin Anderson of Dubuque, nine grandsons and their wives, and fifteen great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy (Emery) Anderson, his parents Ernest and Helna (Rydbeck) Anderson, his two brothers Lawence Anderson and Raymond Anderson, and his two sisters Lucille (Anderson) Mulholland and Betty (Anderson) Cook.
A memorial service for Wilford is scheduled for 10:30a.m., Saturday, June 14, 2025 at Hope Church, Dubuque, after which both he and Nancy will be interred at Linwood Cemetery.
The Egelhof, Siegert and Casper Funeral Home and Crematory is entrusted with arrangements.
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