Walter R. Anderson, Jr.

Mr. Walter R. Anderson, Jr., "Huncie", of Bay City, passed away Thursday evening, May 26, 2016 at McLaren Bay Region, age 82. The son of the late Walter and Emily (Ford) Anderson, Sr., he was born on July 28, 1933 in Saginaw. Walter graduated from Bay City Central High School where he was an accomplished diver. He served with the U.S. Army during the Korean War and then returned home and graduated from Bay City Junior College. Walter went on to work at Dow Chemical, Saginaw Steering Gear and retired as a system analyst from EDS. He was a member of Bay City Elks Lodge 88. Walter had a keen interest in aviation and piloting and loved sailing. A gifted natural musician, he especially loved playing the piano. Walter enjoyed building projects and built four of his homes. He was very proud of his children and grandchildren. Walter always said that his greatest accomplishment was raising his four children.
Mr. Anderson is survived by his four children, Julene and Roy Burson of Henderson, Nevada, and their children; Kristin and Melissa, Eric Anderson and Nancy Culberson of Durham, NC, Mary and Jim Varilek of St. Louis, MO and their children; Nicholas DeAgostino, Brittney, Ryan and Brendan, Jill and Bill Teberg of Brookhaven, GA, and their children; Rachel, Gage and Kyle; 10 great-grandchildren; his former wife and lifelong friend, Marilyn Thiel; four sisters, Virginia Trogan, Jean Forbes, Jacquie (Bob) Hill and JoAnn (Marty) Waits; his mother-in-law, Myrtle Wackerle; two sisters-in-law, Jan Knochel and Bev (Dale) Billingsley; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides his parents, Walter was also preceded in death by his wife, Brenda (Wackerle) Anderson in 2013; a sister, Marjorie (Leonard) Hensey; his brother, Duane (Hilda) Anderson; his father-in-law, Willis Wackerle; and three brothers-in-law, Ralph Forbes, Louis Trogan and Mike Knochel.
It was Walter's desire for cremation to take place. A private family service, with military honors, will be held a later date and interment will be in Floral Gardens Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Gephart Funeral Home, Inc. www.gephartfuneralhome.com