Donald Arthur Anderson

Donald Arthur Anderson, 91, went home to be with the Lord on Christmas Day, 2016, at Mercy Hospice in Johnston, Iowa. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 28th, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines. The funeral service will be on Thursday, December 29th, at 11:00 AM at Westchester E. Free Church, 4919 Aurora, Des Moines, IA. Burial will be at Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter, Iowa.

Donald was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on February 17, 1925, to Arthur and Lily Anderson. He attended Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1942 with a degree in Civil Engineering.

Don attended First Evangelical Free Church in Minneapolis, where he met the love of his life, Eloise Anonsen. They were married on August 22, 1947, and were blessed with 68 years of marriage and three children, Barb, Nancy and Jim.

At age 17, Don enlisted in the Navy, after hearing about Pearl Harbor while listening to the radio at his job as soda jerk for the local drug store. He was called to active duty in July of 1943 and retired 26 years later as Lt. Commander of the Naval Reserve Seabee Civil Engineer Division 9-7 in Des Moines, IA.

In 1952, Don moved his young family to Des Moines to become Des Moines’ first City Planner. In 1955, he started Anderson Engineering Company. His Company got a big break in 1956, when he was awarded the horizontal and vertical control contract for the proposed 16-mile stretch of I-235 through Des Moines. Anderson Engineering quickly became one of the top civil engineering companies, designing many of the subdivisions in the greater Des Moines area. Anderson Engineering Company was also active throughout the state of Iowa, being retained by private developers or by many municipalities as City Engineer. Don served as City Engineer for Clive for over 20 years. He also served as City Engineer for Polk City for over 20 years, guiding this small community through its rapid growth and coordinating with the Army Corps of Engineers during the construction of Saylorville Lake and Big Creek Lake flood control projects.

In 1977, the Company’s name was changed to Anderson Consultants, Inc. to more accurately describe the wide range of services provided, including architectural design. Don also owned Anderson Investment Co., Ltd., where he was involved in the construction and management of investment real estate. His company built the Des Moines Franklin Library, Summit House condominiums and many other office, retail and apartment buildings.

Don and Eloise were active members of both the Highland Park and Westchester Evangelical Free Church, serving as Chairman for many years. Don served on the National Executive Board of the Evangelical Free Church of America for 12 years. In 1984, he chaired the 100th Centennial Anniversary celebration held in Ames, IA, where 10,000 people attended.

Don had a love for travel and adventure. He and Eloise traveled extensively, including Israel, Lebanon, Cuba, Panama Canal and the Scandinavian countries. Being a Navy man, he especially enjoyed ocean and river cruising. Later in life, he traveled to Congo, Africa, for a 5-week mission trip. There he and a friend engineered, paid for and helped the natives construct a water system for the village.

Don and Eloise enjoyed many winters in their Naples, FL home and summers at their log home in Lake Kabecona, MN and later, at Lake Arbutus, WI.

Don has been a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend to so many. He was known for his sweet smile, his patience and kindness.
His Christian faith was his compass.

He is survived by his daughters, Barbara (Steve) Beal of West Des Moines, Nancy (Bill) Knapp of Des Moines; son, Jim (Debbie) Anderson of Ola, Idaho; grandchildren, Brad Beal of West Des Moines, Shelley (Ben) Twigg of Waukee, Bill (Lora) Knapp III of Urbandale, Lora Knapp of Houston, Texas, Travis (Blair) Anderson of North Pole, Alaska, and Kristine (Jesse Laird) Anderson of Shelton, Washington; great-grandchildren, Emma, Lily and Maya Twigg, Clare Knapp, Wesley, Emily and Luke Anderson, and Sawyer Laird; sister, Bernice Gustafson of Willmar, MN, and sister-in-law, Virginia Anonsen of Fort Myers, Florida.

Don was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Eloise.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Valley Church, 4343 Fuller Rd., West Des Moines, IA.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

Print