Howard Anderson Howard Dean Anderson, 86, of Pickford, passed away Monday, August 17, 2009, at War Memorial Hospital in Sault Ste. Marie.

He was born May 16, 1923, in Pickford, to Alexander S. and Maude Ellen (nee Stevenson) Anderson.

Mr. Anderson grew up in Pickford and was graduated from Pickford High School in 1942. He joined the U.S. Army March 18, 1943, and served during World War II with the 90th Infantry Division in five major campaigns, including the D-day invasion of Normandy at Utah Beach, The Falaise Gap in Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe. He earned a Bronze Star for taking out a German machine gun nest.

World War II had a tremendous impact on Mr. Anderson, said his family, and his love for his country and fellow soldiers were a favorite subject of his storytelling.

“There is no future without learning from the past,” he liked to say.

Following the war, he returned to Pickford and married Elizabeth “Betty” Mae Leach June 26, 1946, at the Pickford Methodist Church. He learned the electrical trade while working for Frank Clegg, then owned and operated Howard Anderson Electric, working as an electrical contractor until the mid- 1980s.

Mr. Anderson was a member of the 90th Infantry Division Association, the Law-White VFW Post 7958 in Hessel, and the American Legion Post 323 in Pickford, and the Pickford Methodist Church.

He enjoyed crafts and made lighthouses, birdhouses, butterfly houses, and lamps with stones and trees, ships, fish, and other figures with copper wire, giving many away. He also enjoyed woodworking and made personalized step stools for all of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Mr. Anderson is survived by his wife, Betty; three daughters and their families, Donna Wiggins, DiAnn and David Firack, and Debra and Richard Huyck, all of Pickford; six grandchildren and their families, Victoria and Kent Weiderman, Joel and Brenda Wiggins, Jason and Dee Dee Firack, Joshua and Rhonda Firack, Ben and Elizabeth Huyck, and Jessica and Charlie Bjunes, and 10 great-grandchildren, Dale and Alex Wiggins, Alec, Ian, Teryn, and Elizabeth Firack, Samantha and Isabelle Huyck, and Dylan and Abbey Bjunes.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Lillian Beamish and Thelma Rye, and one brother, Frederick Anderson.

Visitation will be Wednesday, August 19, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Reamer Galer Funeral Home in Pickford. Martin Ledy will conduct the service Thursday, August 20, at 11 a.m. at the funeral home.

Burial will be in Oaklawn Chapel Gardens in Bruce Township.

Memorials may be made in his memory to DAV Chapter 52 Van Program, PO Box 375, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, which provides transportation to veterans for health care.