Kenneth Lawrence “Larry “Anderson, 89, of Alma, Kansas, died Monday, January 3, 2022, at the Valley Vista, Wamego. He was a life-long resident of the Alma community.
Larry was born on August 2, 1932, in rural Alma, the son of Oliver A. and Minnie (Weber) Anderson. He attended local grade schools and graduated from Alma High School. He then attended Kansas State University for two semesters, studying Journalism. Larry then served in the United States Air Force in Korea during the Korean War. He was a navigator for an F84 Thunder Jet.
Following his military service, Larry worked for Cason construction, on the Wamego missile base, and for McConnel-Douglas in Wichita, and the oil fields in Oklahoma. In 1956 he joined the United States Postal Service for 29 years and served as the Alma Postmaster from 1973 to 1985.
Larry was a member of the Wichita Car Club, the American Legion, and Rotary. He also served as a member of the Alma School Board. He enjoyed hunting and trapping and was able to hand call numerous animals, especially coyotes, hoot owls, crows, and frogs. But his passion was fishing. He was able to take several fishing trips to Minnesota over the years.
Larry married Anna Mae Richardson on June 18, 1960, in McFarland, Kansas. She survives at their home.
Larry is also survived by his children; Debora Howser (Doug), Westfield, New York, Gregory Anderson (Angela), Alma, Teresa Anderson, Alma, Michael Anderson (Pamela), Paxico, Eric Anderson (Alyne), Rossville, and Sara Diepenbrock, Alma; his eighteen grandchildren; David Frederick(Camille),Tyson Frederick, Danielle Larson(Brett), Tanner Frederick, Ryan Howser, Nicole Wollenberg (Tim), Nicole Anderson, Kayla Anderson (Mark), Tristan Anderson, Kassidi Lienemann (Matthew), Kain Anderson, Heath Schremmer (Miranda), Jarod Schremmer,(Hailey), Kennedy Anderson, Trey Anderson, Chelsea Schmidt (Clay), Lexi Brumage (Quinton), and Hadlee Diepenbrock; and his twenty great-grandchildren; Mason, Brooke, Vincent, Stella, Eliana, Olivia, Lillian, Devon, Grayson, Zaire, Kale, Kye, Blake, Kent, Jackson, Boston, Cason, Collin, Sawyer, and Gavin; and his sister, Maribelle Moege. Larry was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Lou Cromer, Don Anderson, and Stephen Anderson.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, January 7, 2022, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Alma. Father Swamy Nannam will be the Celebrant. Burial will follow at the Swedish Cemetery south of Alma. Larry will lie-in-state, at the church hall, on Thursday beginning at 4:00 p.m. A rosary prayer service will be held at 6:00 p.m. and the family will greet friends until 7:30 p.m. The family request that masks be worn. They suggest memorial contributions to the American Legion or Holy Family Catholic Church, and those may be sent in care of Campanella & Stewart Funeral Home.