Gilbert “Bud” Anderson
Posted By Ballard Sunder Funeral Home On July 27, 2019 @ 5:50 pm In 2019,Obituaries | 10 Comments
Gilbert “Bud” Anderson, age 84 of Prior Lake, peacefully entered eternal life on Friday July 26, 2019. A visitation will be held from 4-7PM on Thursday, August 1, 2019 at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, 4565 Pleasant St. SE, Prior Lake. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, August 2, 2019 at 11AM with a visitation one-hour prior at St. Michael Catholic Church, 16311 Duluth Ave. SE, Prior Lake.
Bud will be laid to rest at St. Michael Catholic Cemetery with Father Tom Walker presiding.
Bud was born in 1935, the son of Clarence and Eva (Roberts) Anderson. Bud and his sister Margaret grew up in Pierre and De Smet, SD, and Bremerton, WA, before the family moved to Castlewood, SD, where Bud attended high school. In high school, he played on the basketball team and was elected senior class president. It was also there he met the love of his life, JoAnn Knoblauch.
After graduation, Bud entered the Naval Air Corps, returning after boot camp to marry JoAnn. They exchanged wedding vows at St. John Catholic Church in Castlewood. From there they were off to Chincoteague, VA, where Bud was stationed. Bud was proud of his service, rising to rank of Ensign First Class. While in Virginia, Bud and JoAnn had their first of six children, a boy named Kevin.
After his honorable discharge, Bud and JoAnn returned to South Dakota where Bud studied electrical engineering at the South Dakota School of Mines in Rapid City. While Bud pursued his degree—fixing television sets at night to earn extra money—the couple had two more children, both boys, named Brian and Robert.
After earning his degree, Bud was hired by Control Data Corporation and rose to the position of General Manager. He was eventually given charge of their “Life Extension Institute” which focused on improving employee wellness. When Control Data decided to sell this division, Bud and two partners, Dave Anderson and John Tarbuck, were able to purchase the company. Through hard work and the dedication of its employees, the company, renamed StayWell, was quite successful. When it came time to sell the company, Bud and his partners shared the proceeds of the sale with every employee. Bud said handing out those checks was the proudest moment of his career.
In the meantime, Bud and JoAnn had three more children, Patrick, Cathleen and Mike.
Retiring in 1995, Bud was able to spend time with his growing family. Bud was truly a family man. He doted upon his grandchildren, spent countless hours with son Patrick in their “Norske Workshop” crafting desks and bookshelves for other family members, and traveling with JoAnn. They ventured across America, often touring Cathedrals, Shrines, and Basilicas along the way.
For over twenty years, Bud and JoAnn wintered on the island of Maui, issuing invitations to their family to come and stay with them. Some of the family’s most treasured moments are of those sun-soaked times by the Pacific.
Bud lived by a simple motto: Do the Right Thing. A man of deep faith, he imbued each member of his family with this important value. Although they continue his legacy, he will be loved and missed by his wife, JoAnn; children, Kevin (Erin), Brian (Sue), Robert, Patrick, Cathleen and Mike (Becky); grandchildren, Kelsey (Wes Carrier), Nicole, Sydney (Caleb), Neil, Liam, Miranda, Noah, Sam and Mason.
Bud is greeted in Heaven by his parents and sister, Margaret (John) Gerhold.
Funeral arrangements by Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation, Prior Lake, MN.
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Print Obituary & Condolences Condolences for the family of “Gilbert “Bud” Anderson”
Dear JoAnne and family
Our most sincere condolences on the death of your dear husband, father and grandfather . He was a dear and gentle man. He will be greatly missed.
Our thoughts and prayers
John and Angie Skarhus
JoAnne and family,
We are so sorry for your loss. Our Prayers and thoughts are will you. May God give you peace and comfort in the days ahead.
Roman and Jan Hertaus
Bud Anderson provided StayWell with the leadership needed for success when we left the safe confines of Control Data out into the wilderness (some would say wild, Wild West) of employee health promotion.
Thank you, Bud, for your measured decision-making, and for keeping a steady hand at the helm.
I am so very sad that I can’t come to the celebration of life for Bud. I am sending a card to the family, but I want you to know that Bud made a huge impact on my life as a young professional with my first career at Staywell at the tender age of 24. I had the great opportunity to work with Bud, John and David and all the great StayWell people in the early days. What a fabulous first experience as a health professional!
I thank Bud for those early days and for all I learned about true leadership from him. I am glad to read about all the family time he was able to share after his retirement with all of you!
God bless you all as you mourn his loss and celebrate his life!
We are so very sorry to for your great loss of Bud. We met him only once but we were so impressed with him. He was such a gentle and kind man, a man full of faith. May God bless you as you mourn his passing and may God bless you with courage and trust as you celebrate Bud’s life. Bud will always be in your heart.
Although I never knew Bud, his legacy lives on at StayWell. My heart has been so touched by his stories and quotes. I feel tremendously blessed knowing that such a great man of faith and integrity founded the company that I am so proud to work for today. May God’s peace and comfort flood the entire family during this time- for we know where Bud is!
Kevin,
I am so sad to hear of the passing of your father.
What a wonderful write up your family has given him.
It sounds like he was a wonderful father and loved by his children and grandchildren.
My prayers to you and your family during this time of loss
My Condolences to the Anderson family. I had the pleasure of knowing Bud, JoAnna & Mike from my time at StayWell. I have so many great memories of the company picnics at their Prior Lake home. Different gatherings at StayWell and working with Mike and Becky. I’m so sorry I was unable to attend his service. What a wonderful tribute to him. Again my deepest sympathies to your family.
Joann and family.
Thank you for calling and telling me of Buds passing.
Bud was a friend, a mentor, and a hero to me from the day we met in 1963 at Boeing. He came there for a few days to help with some technical problems. During his stay he gently took me out for a beer and quietly explained things about corporate life. Things like how to be part of the answer instead of part of the problem. That conversation was a turning point in my life and my career. For the next 55 years our paths crossed and re-crossed. At times side beside and other times involved in widely differing situations. He “saved my career” on more than one occasion. His pride and the joy he enjoyed with all of you were paramount in his life. The privilege of having him as a friend is enormous. My prayers are with you all. God bless and keep you.
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So very sorry to hear of Bud’s passing. All of us Colucci’s have such wonderful memories of all of you during our years on the lake as your neighbors. Bud was such a great friend to my mom and Dad. He was a really, really nice guy. My deepest sympathy to Joanne and family.