Robert Anderson Sr
Local News

Robert Anderson Sr., former Homewood village clerk, dies

A World War II veteran, former Homewood village clerk and and chairman of a south suburban-based manufacturer died suddenly in Muncie, Ind., on Jan. 20.
 
Robert L. Anderson Sr., 93, was a past chairman and CEO of Whiting Corp., formerly located in Harvey.
 
  Robert 
  Anderson Sr.

 

Mr. Anderson had resided in Naples, Fla., since 1992. He was born in Chicago, raised in Harvey and lived for many years in Homewood and Glenwood.

 
He assumed the top post at Whiting in 1984 after working in the firm’s credit and finance divisions for more than 30 years.
 
Mr. Anderson often credited his college education, made possible by the GI Bill of Rights for his tour of duty in World War II, for his subsequent business career. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from DePaul University and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
 
His military service began quickly after his graduation in 1943 from Thornton Township High School in Harvey. Mr. Anderson soon found himself in the U.S. Army Air Corps in Europe. He was a top turret gunner on B-24 bombers for the Eighth Air Force based in Great Britain.
 
Not long after the war, and as he pursued his college education during evenings, Mr. Anderson joined Whiting Corp.

He also found the time to be involved in various civic affairs. Mr. Anderson was village clerk in Homewood from 1955 to 1969 and served two terms as president of the former South Suburban Chamber of Commerce & Industry. He was a past member of the board of directors of the Harvey YMCA and United Way of Harvey.

 
An avid golfer, Mr. Anderson was a past member of Olympia Fields Country Club.
 
Mr. Anderson was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Olive D. (Wolf) Anderson, in 2015. He is survived by two children, Dorothy (Arthur) Hofstetter of Chicago and Robert (Tammy) Anderson Jr. of Homewood, and his partner, Marilyn Haaksma of Muncie. Also surviving are four grandchildren – David (Elizabeth) Fusaro, Christine (Mark) Altstiel, Jenna Anderson and Robert Anderson – and two great-grandchildren, Nora Olive Fusaro and Henry Oliver Altstiel.
 
A memorial service will be at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 23 at St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, 125 W. Church St., Elmhurst. In lieu of flowers, donations in Anderson’s memory may be made to the Humane Society Naples, 370 Airport Pulling Road North, Naples, Fla., 34104 (www.hsnaples.org).

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