Leland D. “Lee” Anderson, 84, of Waterloo, Iowa, died at ManorCare Health Services on Friday, October 29, 2010, from complications of a short illness.

Leland Duane Anderson was born November 17, 1925 in Gowrie, Iowa, son of Carl R. and Lola Gorman Anderson. Lee lived on his parents’ farm until he was 7 years old when they moved to Ellsworth, Iowa. Lee graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1944 and then voluntarily enlisted in the U.S. Navy during WWII. The Navy sent him to Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana for Electrical Engineering.

Later, he shipped out of San Francisco and arrived at the Philippine Islands on the day the first Atomic Bomb was dropped. Lee then cruised off the coast of Japan aboard the Aircraft Carrier Belleau Wood. After he was honorably discharged from the Navy he worked for his Dad at Anderson’s Garage.

In 1956 he married Dorothy Krause and they moved to Waterloo. He worked in several machine shops as a welder over the years, retiring in 1991 from Wayne Engineering.

Lee is survived by his sons Tony and his wife Terri and Micheal D. and his wife Yvonne, all of Waterloo, and three grandchildren: Christopher, Tara, and Abby. He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife in 1994, and sister Norma Thompson.

Lee enjoyed playing cards and cribbage, eating out and having a glass of wine, and telling jokes. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church and the Waterloo American Legion. He volunteered for Cedar Valley Hospice doing many things, but was especially proud to be a member of the Entertainment Committee. He will be greatly missed.