Clifford O. Anderson

Clifford Odell Anderson, age 80 of Westby, WI passed away on Sunday, August 5, 2007 Clifford Odell Anderson, age 80 of Westby, WI passed away on Sunday, August 5, 2007 at his home, surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with cancer. Clifford was born in Clinton Township, Vernon County on February 20, 1927 to Elmer K. and Ottila (Goplin) Anderson. He married June Elnor Hovde on March 11, 1950. Clifford attended Knapp School, which was located in the same valley where he and June farmed their entire married life of 57 years together. Clifford served in the Army as a guard at the outposts of the Nuremberg Trials in Germany and also as a tank commander in WWII. Along with farming full time, he worked as a John Deere mechanic in Westby in the early years of their marriage. He enjoyed collecting John Deere tractors and proudly owned his fathers only John Deere H and John Deere B, along with several others. Clifford began driving school bus for the Westby Area Schools part time in 1964 and began driving full time in August 1965. He drove the same route for 42 years retiring on his birthday in 2007. Clifford served on the Knapp School Board, helped organize the Kickapoo Watershed, was a member of the Westby American Legion and VFW, NFO, Farm Bureau, Coulee Antique Club. He also served as a board member for the Town of Clinton and was presently serving on the Country Coon Prairie Preservation Board. Clifford is survived by his wife, June and his five daughters: Lynette (Richard) Johnson, Roxanne (Alan) VonRuden, Brenda (Daniel) Snodgrass, Christine (Russell) Aarness, and Dawn Anderson, all of Westby. He is further survived by his grandchildren: Bruce (Amanda) VonRuden, Travis (Kimberly) VonRuden, Jaymie VonRuden, Stacy and Steven Snodgrass, Justin Aarness; step-grandson, Shawn Snodgrass; sisters: Alice Widner and Gladys Myhre, as well as several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers-in-law, Victor Raiten, Tennie Myhre, and Albert Widner; a son-in-law, Daniel Fisher; and grandson, Corey Aarness. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 9, 2007 at the Country Coon Prairie Lutheran Church, rural Westby. Pastor Dennis Hallemeier will officiate with burial in the Coon Prairie Cemetery. Military rites provided by Syverson-Funk American Legion and Westby VFW. Friends may call from 6-9 p.m. on Wednesday at the Vosseteig Funeral Home, 708 S. Main, Hwy. 14, Westby, WI. Friends may also call at the church on Thursday from 12:30 until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Vernon Memorial Hospice, American Cancer Society, Coon Prairie Preservation, or Aarness Scholarship Fund. The Vosseteig Funeral Home of Westby is serving the family.