Reverend J. Philemon “Phil” Anderson

The Reverend J. Philemon “Phil” Anderson, former pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Baraboo, Wisconsin, died peacefully of natural causes on Christmas Eve.  He was 96.   Dad had expressed the wish to be with Mom for Christmas, and his wish came true.

Phil Anderson was born on May 31st, 1929, in Norwich Connecticut, where his father, Anders J. Anderson, a Swedish immigrant, served as pastor of Ebenezer Lutheran Church.  Phil’s mother Ruth wondered aloud whether she would give birth to a “May Basket or a June Bug,” born as he was so close to midnight.  When Anderson was three months old, the family moved to Bethesda, Iowa, where he lived until he was eleven.  The family then moved to Orion, Illinois.  Anderson graduated from Orion High School as valedictorian of the Class of 1946 at the age of sixteen.  Then he entered Augustana Lutheran College, majored in theological studies, and was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate in 1950.  Anderson next enrolled in the Augustana Theological Seminary at Rock Island and was ordained into the ministry of the Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1954. 

Pastor Anderson accepted his first call to the joint parish of Trinity Lutheran Church in Brevort, Michigan, and of Zion Lutheran Church in nearby St. Ignace.  He oversaw the construction of a new Zion parish in 1958, and in the Upper Peninsula formed friendships that lasted throughout his life.  He was present at the dedication of the Mackinac Bridge in November 1957 and viewed its construction from the beginning in 1954. 

In 1964 Pastor Anderson accepted the call to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Baraboo, Wisconsin, where he remained until his retirement in 1998.  The congregation grew in members under his stewardship, as did the church building itself and programs for all its  parishioners.

On September 17th, 1955, Pastor Anderson was joined in marriage to Joan Ruth Nelson of Escanaba, Michigan.  In a most happy and cooperative marriage, ‘Pastor and Joan’ worked side by side in Brevort, St. Ignace, and Baraboo to serve, comfort, support, and inspire their parishioners.  As parents they bestowed immense and lifelong love on their children and their families.

Dad loved learning and had many hobbies, including stargazing, wildflowers, big-band music, ham radio, local authors, the works of Jane Austen, and state historical markers.  Dad’s handwritten notebooks from his decades of personal study are family treasures.  As a boy during WWII, he followed the progress of the European Theater with stick pins on a wall map, and hung American fighter model airplanes from his bedroom ceiling. In Orion High School’s production of Pride and Prejudice, Dad debuted as Mr. Darcy.  His high school Latin teacher remarked that when she was absent, Dad could have taught the class.  In 1971 Dad served as president of the August Derleth Society.  For decades he served in Kiwanis and Golden K.  In the 1980s Dad took computer programming classes at the University of Wisconsin-Baraboo, and before finance software became popular, wrote a program to guide St. Paul’s finances.  He was ahead of his time.  He read scripture in Swedish, Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, and translated for posterity over 80 family letters from Swedish into English.  Dad was forever the family champion of parcheesi, chess, cribbage, hearts, and, most notably, croquet. 

Dad was long an ecumenical sports fan.  In the 1940s he came to admire Notre Dame football under champion coach Frank Leahy. During the 1950s in St. Ignace, he followed Detroit Lions football on a.m. radio in his chilly garage on the car radio, so poor was TV reception in those days. When he moved to Wisconsin, Dad became a Packers fan during the Lombardi glory years.  He always cheered for and held faith in his “Cubbies,” the Chicago Cubs, throughout their ups and downs.  

In sum, our Dad, Pastor Phil Anderson, lived and led by humble example, and his chief concerns were always those of his parishioners, friends, and family.  He had a sharp, curious, and independent mind, and a most caring, loving, and forgiving heart.

Pastor Anderson was preceded in death by his parents Anders and Ruth, and Joan, his beloved wife of 65 years.  He is survived by his sister Miriam Johnson of West Yarmouth, Massachusetts, cousins Lorena Peterson of Liberty, Missouri, and Enid Chicowski of Arlington Heights, Illinois; daughter Susan Simpson of Baraboo, sons Rick (Judy) Anderson of Lake Tapps, Washington, and Steve (Kristin) Andersson of Upper Arlington, Ohio; grandchildren Sara (Christian) Lindemann, Carl Anderson, and Hanna and Betsy Andersson;  great grandchildren Addison, Kennedy, Emmett, and Finley Lindemann; niece Paula Johnson and nephews Phil Johnson, Rick Nelson, and Tim and Matt Thurber, together with their families.  Our extended family remembers our Dad, Pastor Phil Anderson, with so many memories, stories, love, respect, and affection.

The family held a private committal at Walnut Hill Cemetery and will plan a Celebration of Life.  We will announce those plans closer to the time.

Brothers Rick and Steve give their heartfelt thanks to sister Susie for her loving and immeasurable care of our Dad after Mom died in 2021.  Memorials may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.  Our family sincerely appreciates the staff of Jefferson Meadows Care Facility for its devoted and compassionate care of Dad.    Redlin-Ertz is assisting the family.