Sander Eastman Anderson

Sander Eastman Anderson, 85, of Enterprise, died peacefully April 29 with family around him at Wallowa Memorial Hospital. He died after many complications from a stroke, congestive heart failure and infections. Graveside services will begin at 11 a.m. May 30 at Lostine Cemetery.

Sander was born Nov. 18, 1923, to Gust and Ella Anderson in Hood River. The eldest of five children, he grew up in Dufur and graduated there in 1941 and began work with the U.S. Forest Service.

In September 1943, he was inducted into the Army Air Corp. He served in India and China in Company A 3198th Signal Service Battalion as a communications specialist. He was responsible for installing technological devices among the air bases. In May 1946, he was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant and returned to Dufur, where he resumed his employment with the Forest Service.

After working for two years, on May 28, 1948, he married Marilyn Martin. They continued to live in Dufur where they had two sons, R. Charles Anderson and Randal L. Anderson. Sander and Marilyn farmed for her parents in Clatskanie from 1952 to 1954.

During the spring of 1954, he accepted a position with the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Chesnimnus Ranger District as fire control officer. His daughter, Mari Lynn Anderson, was born in the fall of 1954. After 31 years, Sander retired in 1978. Before retiring, he met and married Joyce Magee on May 3, 1975.

In his retirement he stayed busy with many different jobs such as carpentry, delivering mail and harvesting grain with his longtime friend, Ronnie Sands.

Sander was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Enterprise Elks Lodge.

In addition to his local memberships, he was an avid outdoorsman. He had 35 years of hunting adventures with buddies and family in the Snake River Unit.

That area, as well as Chesnim, continued to be one of his fondest places throughout his lifetime. Anything that dealt with outdoor activities such as mushroom picking, hiking, baseball, horseshoe throwing and scenic drives held great enjoyment for Sander. His fondness for these activities was always enhanced by the presence of his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce, who cared for him tirelessly after his stroke in 2001. He is also survived by his three children and their families: R. Charles Anderson and his wife, Linda, Randal L. Anderson and his wife, Sandra, and Mari Lynn Andrade and her husband, Lon; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; brother, Robert Frazer; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Eleanor; and brothers, Scott Frazer and Clarence Anderson.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Wallowa County Veterans Service Officer Program in care of Bollman Funeral Home. This funding helps local veterans and their families.

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