Joseph Michael Anderson Sr.

JOSEPH MICHAEL ANDERSON, SR., age 77, of Delavan, died Monday, September 15, 2014, at his home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, September 22, 2014, at 11:00 AM, at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Blue Earth, with Father Peter Klein officiating. Burial will be in Rice Lake Cemetery, Delavan. Visitation time will be Sunday from 2:00 5:00 pm, at Patton Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 400 E. 14th Street in Blue Earth. Web tributes may be left at www.pattonfh.com Joe was born January 20, 1937, at Delavan Township, MN, the son of Mike and Jean (Maday) Anderson. He was raised in Delavan where he graduated from Delavan High School in 1955. He was married to Karen M. Springer on September 15, 1956 at St. Mary''s Catholic Church in Winnebago. Shortly after their wedding he entered the U.S. Air Force where he served at the Strategic Air Command near Lincoln, NE. Following his service the couple returned to Mapleton, MN where Joe worked for a farmer and soon farmed and milked cows on his own. In 1968 they moved to rural Delavan where Joe worked for Bob Johnson at Winnebago Implement and Auto for 15 years. When that shop closed Joe repaired tractors from his shop at home, specializing in International Harvester repair. He retired in 2002 for health reasons and enjoyed his large gardens that allowed him to can and pickle produce to share with family and friends. He was an avid cowboy and member of the Gopher Saddle Club and served on the Prescott Township board for several years. Joe always said his greatest accomplishment was helping raise a great family. Joe is survived by his wife, Karen Anderson of Delavan, , his daughter, Paula Jo (Dan) Schavey of Blue Earth, his daughter, Rebecca (Jon) Perrizo of Odebolt, Iowa, his son, Joe (Barb) Anderson of Blue Earth, his daughter, Patricia (Brent) Schimek of Deer River, his brother, Richard (Karen) Anderson of Blaine, his sister, Alice (Rick) Golla of Rochester, his brother, Roger (Trudy) Anderson of Delavan, 14 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Stanley Anderson, an infant sister, Margaret Anderson and infant grandchildren, Melissa Perrizo and Christopher Anderson.