Eric Anderson

He was born on October 9, 1963 at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to Bruce Martin and Patricia Lillian (Petersen) Anderson. Eric grew up in Bay City, Michigan, where he played oboe in the concert band. While in Bay City, he also earned his amateur ham radio license. Eric visited the Upper Peninsula with his Grandpa Petersen growing up, which would ultimately influence his decision of where to go to college. He moved to Marquette in 1981 to attend Northern Michigan University, where he majored in Conservation and minored in Computer Science. He graduated in 1984. After graduating from NMU, Eric attended Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois, where he earned his Master’s in geography. While at WIU, he met the woman who he would marry, Susan Maria (Teaser) Anderson, who also was a graduate student in the geography department. Eric also worked in the cartography lab while attending school and graduated in 1987.

Eric and Sue and married on August 22, 1987, at Pikes Peak State Park in McGregor, Iowa. Shortly after, they moved to St. Paul, Minnesota where Eric started his PhD program in Geography at the University of Minnesota. While writing his dissertation, he taught classes at the University of Minnesota, Ramsey Community College, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and other surrounding schools. Before graduating, his daughter, Lydia, was born in 1992. Eric completed his degree in 1994. The family then moved to Portage, Michigan, where Eric taught in the Geography Department at Western Michigan University. During his time there, his son, Aidan, was born in 1996. After two years in Portage, the family moved to the former K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base near Gwinn, Michigan, where Eric started a job as a planner with Marquette County. Eric remained employed with Marquette County for 22 years. He was promoted to Senior Planner and eventually to Department Manager, a job he held until his illness forced him to take medical leave. He served on the Sands Township Planning Board, as well as on the board of directors of MiCAMP, a state-wide GIS users organization. Eric was also an adjunct geography instructor at NMU and Bay Community College.

Eric had a lifelong passion for maps and learning about the many countries of the world. In particular, he had a strong interest in Canada and Africa. Later in life, he became interested in Finland, the Finnish language, and his Finnish heritage. Eric took Finnish classes for over five years in Negaunee. He also attended Salolampi, the Finnish language village, as part of the Concordia Language Villages one spring. This interest in the world translated into tracing his own family roots, something that he enjoyed doing and sharing with his family. Eric also was a member of the Marquette County Genealogical Society and attended state and national genealogy conferences and institutes.

His interests were many, and included stamp collecting, bike riding, nature photography, geology, and sampling beer from around the country. He was happiest spending time with his family.

Eric was preceded in death by his grandparents, Lester and Gladys Anderson and Arthur and Lillian Petersen, as well as his niece, Molly Sheehan.

He is survived by his wife, Sue Anderson of Gwinn, and two children, Lydia (fiance Joseph Kari), of Arlington, Virginia, and Aidan, of Bemidji, Minnesota. Also by his parents, Bruce and Patricia Anderson of Marquette, Michigan, and sister, Jill (Mick) Ollila of Gwinn, Michigan.

The family would like to thank all of his coworkers at Marquette County, the staff at Stevens Hardie Family Practice, and UP Health System Marquette for their care and compassion.

Friends may call at Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services on Friday, June 21, beginning at 11:00 am until the time of service at 1:00 pm. Pastor Chad Mager will officiate. A reception will follow in the reception room located at the funeral home.

Please wear your SISU shirt if you have one.

Memorials may be made to the family and will in turn be directed to two of Eric’s favorite organizations: UPAWS and to fund a MiCAMP scholarship.

Condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswansonhansen.com