Howard Anderson

Hardworking, kind, and devoted to serving those around him, Howard Anderson lived a life rich in family and friends. He was a constant source of strength, no matter the circumstances, and his generosity left an unforgettable impact on so many. Deeply loved, Howard will be forever missed and remembered.

Howard was born to James Edgar and Jessie (Akers) Anderson on October 14, 1945. He enjoyed a typical childhood of his generation. He grew up in the Holler in Kentucky, where he had many adventures. Howard’s Dad supported the family by working as a coal miner. As the fifth of eight Anderson kids, Howard was raised alongside his four older siblings, Sue, Pat, Troyl, and Ray, and his three younger siblings, Gail, Buck and Greg. Howard was very close to his family. The Anderson boys were known to get into their fair share of mischief. When Howard was young the family moved to Bowling Green, OH. He and his brothers would sometimes get into fights when other kids made fun of their accents, but their Mom, Jessie, kept a firm hand on the boys and made sure they stayed in line.

As a boy, Howard enjoyed hunting and fishing. After moving to Ohio, his father found work in construction, so Howard was able to learn many of those skills from his Dad as well. He was a bundle of energy and loved playing baseball, even throwing a no hitter once. Howard was never afraid of hard work. He started out running a paper route, then began working at a local gas station and later a grocery store. Howard spent much of his summers helping out on farms in the area. He attended and graduated from Bowling Green High School, eager to see what the future held.

It was while Howard was working at the grocery store that a beautiful young woman caught his eye. Her name was Mary Frances “Cissy” Merrill, and Howard jumped at his chance to ask her out. They enjoyed a first date seeing “A Fistful of Dollars” at a drive-in movie, in a car with no rear floor boards, and the rest was history. The couple soon got engaged, but as the Vietnam War continued to escalate overseas, Howard followed the call to serve his country and enlisted in the United States Army. His service was spent in the engineering battalion. During their time apart, Howard and Cissy stayed in touch by exchanging letters and tapes. When Howard’s deployment ended and he returned home, the two were more than ready to be husband and wife. Howard and Cissy were united in marriage on April 20,1968, then happily enjoyed a honeymoon in Niagara Falls.

Howard started his career working for Coca Cola. As he was looking for other job opportunities, he was introduced to New York Life Insurance Company where he would spend the next 35 years in many different roles, ending his career as an Executive Officer of the company. His job required the young Anderson family to move around a lot, following where the opportunities led them. Howard and Cissy began their married life living in Toledo, then moved to Perrysburg and later Bowling Green, before Howard was given the chance to start an office in Lorain, OH. They soon settled down in the Brighton/Howell area in Michigan, where they would raise their family. Wherever they lived, Howard and Cissy made each house their home.

Of all the things Howard loved in life, his family was his greatest treasure. He and Cissy were overjoyed to welcome their two daughters, Amy and Jenny, into their hearts. He was also proud to welcome his son-in-law Chip to the family, and thought of him as his son. Howard thrived in his role as a father and he considered it his duty to teach his daughters and Chip all of the life skills they could need, from how to change a tire, to how to shoot a gun, to how to be a leader in life. He was both a doting dad and a dedicated provider, always working hard to make sure his family had everything they needed.

Over the years, the Anderson family enjoyed many road trip vacations to visit family back in Bowling Green or to spend time with Howard’s lifelong Army buddies. He loved getting together for the Anderson Family Reunions, hosting parties, going to Jekyll Island, and spending as much time as he could with his family.

Once Amy and Jenny were in college, Howard’s career took him and Cissy to live in Pennsylvania for a job promotion in New York City. His knowledge of field offices was very valuable, and he was known to take great care of the employees under his watch. Howard was a charismatic man who could strike up a conversation with anyone. He poured into his career for many years, making impactful changes in the company before retiring at the age of 58. With a desire to return to his country roots and live closer to their new grandson, Howard and Cissy moved to what would become their dream home, in Pinckney, MI, where they would live until settling down in Rockford, MI to be closer to family.

Howard was thrilled to become a grandfather to Jonah. He adored his grandson, and the two would spend hours walking trails on the property and catching frogs and turtles. As Jonah got older, Howard loved attending his track meets, bowling matches, and many orchestra concerts. He even got to watch Jonah perform at Carnegie Hall!

Howard and Cissy shared a love for traveling and visited many memorable locations, including Ireland, Italy, and Alaska. In his free time he enjoyed working on cars. Howard’s many cars were among his most prized possessions. He had many hobbies, including woodworking, reading, and coin collecting.

As we gather to reflect on the life of Howard Anderson, it is easy to celebrate a man so devoted to bringing joy to all those around him. He faced every challenge that came his way with fierce determination and unwavering courage, and as a devoted husband, father and Poppa, he cherished every moment spent surrounded by friends and family. Although he is already so greatly missed, Howard leaves behind a priceless legacy of compassion and unwavering positivity that his loved ones will be proud to carry on in his footsteps.

Howard Lane Anderson, age 80, of Rockford, MI and formerly of Pinckney, MI passed away March 8, 2026.

Howard is survived by his wife of 58 years, Cissy; their daughters and son-in-law Amy (Chip) Whalen and Jenny Anderson; grandson Jonah Whalen; brothers and sisters: Troyl (Carol) Anderson, Ray (Betty) Anderson, Gail Wilcox, Greg (Julie) Anderson; sisters-in-law, Pat Anderson, Marcia Biancone, Susan Parr; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Friends and family will gather to celebrate his life on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Van Strien Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield Ave. NE. Grand Rapids, MI

Howard’s family will begin greeting family and friends at 11am. There will be a Scripture service beginning at 12 PM. Following the service, all are invited from 1PM – 3PM for a time to share stories, food and drinks and toast Howard’s impact in our lives.