Arthur Jerome Anderson

MADISON/VERONA/MCFARLAND- Arthur Jerome Anderson, age 94, passed away peacefully on Aug. 1, 2016, at Oak Park Place in Madison. He was born as Jerome Arthur Rolland Anderson on June 10, 1922, in Primrose, Wis., to Gertrude (Argue) and Arthur Anderson. After his father died in 1928, he changed his name to Arthur Jerome to honor his father. He graduated from East High School In 1940 and worked briefly for Oscar Mayer, Rayovac, and Gisholt. Arthur was drafted in 1943 and served in the 382nd Anti-Aircraft Battalion in Texas, California, and New Guinea, Philippines. He was present in Tokyo Bay at the signing of the World War II Peace Treaty. After the war in 1946, Arthur returned home to Madison and helped his mother and family run the Dutch Mill restaurant. Arthur attended business courses downtown at Madison College and during breaks he would visit the Badger Candy Kitchen on the Capitol Square. It was there that Arthur met the love of his life, Nilde Nobile. They were united in marriage on Jan. 27, 1948. Arthur then attended four years of college as part of the carpenter's apprentice program and worked at the University of Wisconsin. He joined the Local No. 314 Carpenter Union and continued to work as a carpenter for 40 years. During his career, he built many houses in Madison and Fitchburg. Arthur remembers spending a year on the construction of Monona Grove High School. In 1961, he bought and moved the Dutch Mill building to its current location on Femrite Drive. Over the next three years, he and Nilde completely refurbished the building and reconstructed it into a four-unit apartment building. Arthur built all of the cabinetry and trim. When the project fell behind, he took a leave from his job to finish up the project. In 1964, Arthur and Nilde and their children moved into one of the apartment units. Arthur owned a six-acre wooded parcel in Primrose, his birthplace, where he grew and logged hardwood trees. He enjoyed tending to his trees, loved to saw and plane the dried boards, and appreciated the various rarities and beauties in the wood grain. Arthur had an eye for selecting quality wood and using his artistic talent to build furniture while being careful to preserve the art of the wood, a specific grain or bark. For several years, Arthur and Nilde grew gladiolas and sold them to flower shops and local patrons. Later after several children, his love for gardening expanded into vegetables and tulips. Arthur was a skilled woodworker and enjoyed making rocking horses, chairs, coffee tables, frames, and other furniture in his spare time. Arthur's greatest pride was his tomatoes which he faithfully watered, hoed and weeded on a daily basis. He spent many of his days toiling in his garden retreat and tending to his plantings. Arthur was also a talented dancer; he and Nilde spent many nights dancing gracefully to big band music and their favorite song, "I'm Looking over a Four-Leaf Clover." For 41 years they made their home in Madison, and later they retired to a home off of Lake Kegonsa in the Town of Dunn where he had more time to enjoy his six children, twelve grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Arthur enjoyed his friends and the nursing staff at Oak Park Assisted Living. He helped establish a garden there and was known for his love of gardening and planting bulbs for the staff. Arthur kept active well into his nineties. Arthur is survived by six children, Cynthia (Lin) Anderson of St. Paul, Minn., Julie (Rod) Feld of Aurora, Ill., Nina Wilson (Dan Olson) of Janesville, Wis., Lori (Jim) Wersal of Stoughton, Wis., Ron (Lisa) Anderson of Fitchburg, Wis., and Amy (Tim II) Kiefer of Appleton, Wis.; 12 grandchildren, Eric, Nick, Andrew, and Joel Feld, Natalie (Wilson) Nelson, Anthony, and Jonathan Wilson, Angela (Wersal) Robinson and Austin Wersal, Garrison, Gabrielle and Grace Kiefer; and six great-grandchildren, Bennett and Hudson Feld, Madison and Leighton Feld, and Carter and Asher Nelson. Arthur was preceded in death by his wife. A celebration of Arthur's life will take place at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Dr., Madison, at 1 p.m., on Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association at www.donatenow.heart.org or plant a tree in honor of Arthur. The Anderson family sends appreciation and love to the staff at Oak Park for their patient and loving care and the staff at Agrace HospiceCare for their guidance and comfort. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608)221-5420