Surnames: Anderson, Brost, Cunningham, Hanley, LeBlanc, Ryan

----Source: The Star News (Medford, Taylor Co., Wisconsin) Thursday, July 21, 2011, online edition

Anderson, Robert "Bob" D. (October 25, 1922 - July 13, 2011)

Robert "Bob" D. Anderson, 88, Medford, died on Wednesday, July 13 at Memorial Nursing and Rehab Center in Medford, surrounded by his loving family.

A memorial reception will be held on Saturday, August 13 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Florena Supper Club in Medford. Cremainal inurnment will take place in Lakewood Cemetery in Crosby, Minn.

Hemer Funeral Service of Medford assisted the family with arrangements.

Robert Anderson was born on October 25, 1922 in Crosby to the late Elmer L. and Alice M. (Cunningham) Anderson. He was a graduate of Crosby-Ironton High School in Crosby.

Anderson was a World War II veteran. He served as a waist gunner on a B-17 and flew 28 combat missions in Europe, Normandy and Rhineland campaigns. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the air medal with oak leaf clusters. Among the missions he participated in was a mission to Poltava, the first encounter with German jet aircraft. On one mission his plane returned to England with more than 1,000 holes in it. On his first mission, five of the 21 planes were lost, a day he described as "50 men gone in one afternoon."

On January 3, 1948 in Crosby, he married Margaret "Peg" M. LeBlanc, who survives.

A lifelong newspaperman, he worked with his father on the Crosby Minnesota Courier after the war, and owned newspapers in Menomonee Falls and Sauk-Prairie Wisconsin through 1962, then owned the Gulf Beach Journal in St. Pete Beach, Fla., until 1964 before serving with the Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce. He became foreman of the production department of the Wisconsin State Journal and The Capital Times in 1967, then moving to Medford in 1975 to be publisher and general manager of The Star News, retiring in 1992.

As an old-school newspaperman, he always championed local community issues and never compromised editorial or news integrity. As a result, his papers were always at the forefront of open discussion and debate, for the betterment of the community.

He was a member of Chamber of Commerce, Wisconsin Newspaper Association, VFW, American Legion and Kiwanis.

In addition to his wife, survivors include seven children, Tom (Marcy) Anderson of St. Louis, Mo., Paul (Lisa) Anderson of Harper Ferry, Iowa, James (Cindy) Anderson of Sauk City, Susan (significant other Chris Ryan) Anderson of Kealakekua, Hawaii, Carol (Dan) Brost of Medford, Jeff (Karla) Anderson of Silt, Colo., and Greg (Dawn) Anderson of Medford; a brother, Richard of Crosby; a sister, Elizabeth Hanley of St. Louis; a daughter-in-law, Susan Anderson of Madison; 12 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Tim Anderson in 2010; a grandson, Nicholas Anderson in 2006; and a sister in infancy.

Memorials and donations can be made to the Medford Public Library.

Online condolences may be made at www.hemerfuneralservice.com.