Mark R. Anderson, 55, of Rock Island, died suddenly Friday, June 11, 2004, in Rock Island.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Larson Funeral Home, Rock Island. Burial will be in Greenview Cemetery, East Moline. Visitation will be 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. A memorial fund has been established by the family.
Mark was born Aug. 12, 1948, in Moline, the son of Ferdinand "Bus" and Dolores "Dee" Horst Anderson. He married Linda Noppe Dec. 30, 1981, in Rock Island.
He received his bachelor's degree at Northeast Missouri State and then his master's degree in administration from Western Illinois University. Over subsequent years, he earned an additional 30 hours of college credit. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army.
Mark started his 30-year career in education as an art teacher at the former Central Junior High School in Rock Island. He later taught at W. L. Eddy, Ridgewood, and Francis Willard schools before transferring to Eugene Field, Rock Island in 1988. He was teaching kindergarten when he retired last Friday, June 4. In 1999, Mark was honored by being listed in Who's Who Among America's Teachers.
In addition to the various professional organizations like the N.E.A. and the R.I.E.A., Mark was a member of the P.T.A., Memorial Christian Church, and the Moose Club, all in Rock Island, the Turner's Club, and the N.R.A. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, bowling, and playing golf. He was very supportive of his children's sports activities, both as an observer as well as a volunteer coach for various baseball and softball teams. For several years, he was also the girl's golf coach at Rock Island High School.
Mark is survived by his wife, Linda; a daughter, Laura and a son, Britton "Bud," both at home; his mother, "Dee" Anderson, Rock Island; brothers (and spouses), Ronald (Janet) Anderson, Galena, Ill., and Bruce (Meg) Anderson, Rock Island; an aunt, Meem Brandt, East Moline; an uncle, Jim Horst, Palm Desert, Calif.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Mark was preceded in death by his father and an uncle, Bud Horst.