Mark Anderson

MADISON-Mark Alan Anderson was a kind, thoughtful and humorous man who dearly loved photography, literature and music. He inherited his interest in photography from his mother who was always referred to as "Grandma Flash" in the family. He was the first born son of Jean and Bernard Anderson and spent much of his early life in rural WI where his grandparents (Alta and Don Thompson) operated a cheese factory, and on the farm where the Anderson clan lived in Richland Center. He said he often had dreams as a child of swimming in the huge vats of curds and whey. He spent much time with his father learning to fish in the pristine creeks there. His family moved to Madison when he was 7 years old. Being 14 years older than his youngest sister, Lisa, he was in many ways like a father to her and heavily influenced her and the rest of his family with his amazing taste in art. Before receiving his degree in Communication Arts at UW Madison, he lived some of his 20's in NYC. After turning 19 and moving to New York, his sister Susan went to visit him spending one of the most memorable weeks of her life there at age 17. Not even knowing where he worked, she actually ended up sporting him across the street on the library steps for lunch on one of those days. Having avoided the draft in the war, Mark and his sister also went to see the play Summertree providing a bittersweet note to the trip. He always would ride his bike to work in any weather and enjoyed riding around Madison's many beautiful places, often visiting Picnic Point and the Arboretum. Mark was always more than pleased to share his interest in all kinds of music and literature which he continued to explore throughout his life. He was an avid reader of The New Yorker. Peals of laughter would often be heard from his son and Mark when reading from Dave Barry or the Far Side Gallery of cartoons. Reading to his son, Nathan, and sharing music was a deep connection which bound them forever. Mark also held a position in the Medical Photography Department at UW Hospitals and Clinics for 25 years. There, he made many good friends and acquaintances through out the years. He even once invited a class of Nathan's to his darkroom where he developed each of their handprints for them. In many ways he lived and died there. Mark loved animals and often would take the family's best loved dog, Phoebe, out on walks in the dog parks or in a back pack for a bike ride. He trained her well and she would do anything for him. If you saw Mark at home, he would invariably be sitting on the couch reading the paper or a book with Phoebe resting on his legs. It was the perfect picture of serenity (unless there was a football game on). Phoebe once helped Mark find an orphaned baby raccoon in the pleasure walk behind Edgewood and saved it's life to be returned to the wild. His last employment was with the Prest family as a personal care assistant to Dr. Dick Prest. They considered him part of the family becoming an integral part of the everyday life of Dr. Prest and wife, Susan. In his later years, Mark was confined to a wheelchair due to paralysis. He and his family were very fortunate to have him placed in assisted living situations with very fine families who took amazing care of all his needs. We send special thanks to Karin and Rick Krause and Zainabu and Frank Koostra for their unflagging kindnesses. Mark was always referred to as Mr. Wonderful by his last family because he was always so grateful for the assistance he was given. On their last visit from CO., his sister Lisa and niece, Bri took him out to Paoli where he enjoyed his favorite pie, home made with Door County cherries. Finally we would like to encourage all to consider organ donation. Mark was able to donate to two people in Wisconsin who received the gift of sight. If wished, friends and family might consider donations to the Hospice and Palliative Care Medicine at UW hospitals in care of Vicki Hubbard, RN, Clinical Nurse Manager at 600 Highland Ave., Madison WI. 53792. These donations would be used toward families and staff taking care of patients in their final stages of life. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Dr. (608)221-5420