Wayne H. Anderson, 86

Wayne Howard Anderson, age 86, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away Sunday, March 24, 2024, at St. Mark’s Living in Austin. Wayne was born to Howard and Katie (Nelson) Anderson on June 21, 1937, in Centuria, Wisconsin where he attended and graduated from Centuria High School in 1956. Following high school he continued his education at University of Wisconsin, River Falls where he graduated in 1960 with his bachelor’s degree in education and went on to receive his master’s from University of Northern Iowa in 1964. On June 18, 1960, Wayne married Sandra Petersen in Neenah, Wisconsin. He taught high school biology and chemistry in Winner, South Dakota and Hampton, Iowa. In 1969 he moved his family to Elkton, Minnesota and started his 30-year career as a research scientist – Basic Research Electron Microscope for The Hormel Institute in Austin, Minnesota. One of his greatest accomplishments in life was building their family home in the woods. It took him about 6 months to finish and they were able to move into it in 1972. In 2007 Sandy and Wayne moved to Austin. He loved woodworking, carpentry, and working on his acreage.

Wayne is survived by son, Kevin (Sandra) Anderson of Austin; daughter, Julie (Michael) Brunner of Roseville, Minnesota; six grandchildren, Kirsten (Ryan) Schmidt, Anna (Alex) Moore, Britta (Christian) Wiersma, Erik Anderson, Quinlan Brunner, and Mikayla Brunner; seven great grandchildren, Isaiah Schmidt, Anders Schmidt, Amelia Moore, Amity Moore, Evelyn Wiersma, David Wiersma, and Thomas Wiersma; and sister, Ramona (Jim) Claude of Superior, Wisconsin. He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Sandra Anderson and parents, Howard and Katie Anderson.

The Anderson family plans to host a small family gathering in Wayne’s memory at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to The Hormel Institute. Donations can be made online at hi.umn.edu or mailed to 801 16th Ave NE, Austin, MN, 55912. Thanks and appreciation to the staff at St. Mark’s and St. Croix Hospice for the care and support they provided to Wayne. Worlein-Hoff Funeral Homes are assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.