Obituary for Arthur "Art" Anderson Jr.
Arthur “Art” Anderson Jr., age 74 of Manistee, passed away unexpectedly at home on Saturday March 18, 2023.
He was born on January 15, 1949, in Manistee, Michigan, the son of Arthur F. and Evelyn (Blanchard) Anderson. After graduating from Onekama High School, Art attended and graduated from Central Michigan University. Art married the love of his life, Wilma Witkop, on September 5, 1970, in Traverse City, Michigan. Art was a loving family man, and nothing was more important to him than his children and grandchildren.
Art and Wilma opened Big Al’s Pizza in May of 1973. Besides being an avid hunter and fisherman, he was also a coach and mentor to many local youth, coaching baseball, football, and soccer. He was instrumental in starting the Manistee County Junior and Senior Baseball Association and the Manistee County Youth Football Association. In addition to coaching men’s softball, he served as the State Softball Commissioner for 10 plus years. He was a fixture at the First Street Softball Diamonds. Art was a sponsor of numerous local sports teams throughout the years.
Being civically minded, Art served three terms as a City Councilman. He was also involved with the Boy Scouts, the Manistee Recreation Association, and the Manistee County Sportfishing Association.
Among his many awards, Art was recognized as the VFW’s 1986 Outstanding Citizen and was also awarded the Charles E. Schoedel Service award in 1992 for his contributions to youth sports and the 1981 Jaycees Outstanding Young Man award for his distinguished service to his community.
Art is survived by his wife, Wilma; his children David (Sharon) Anderson, Kathryn (David) Bommarito, James (Sarah) Anderson, and Jeremy (Stephany) Anderson; his grandchildren Jade (Rickie) Booth, Cole Nelson, Cadence, Keira, Kiley, and Jacob Bommarito, Abigail, Madelyne, Ozzy, Thor, Liliana, and Deco Anderson, Billy Anderson and Brookelyn Brown; great-grandchildren Aubrey Anderson, RJ and Nicholas Booth, and Cleo Johnson; granddaughter-in-law Heather Johnson; sister Helen (Randy Webb) Kamaloski; and many other family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents Arthur and Evelyn Anderson, sister M. Mary Anderson, brother Richard Anderson, grandson Levi Johnson, and his brother-in-law Richard Kamaloski.
Visitation for Art will be held on Monday March 27, 2023 from 5:00PM until 7:00PM at Oak Grove Funeral Home in Manistee and again on Tuesday March 28, 2023 from 10:00AM until 11:00AM with the service starting at 11:00AM. The family would like to invite you to join them for a luncheon at the VFW Walsh Post 4499, 1211 28th Street, Manistee, MI 49660, following the service.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to Michigan Parkinson’s Foundation, 30400 Telegraph Rd Suite 150, Bingham Farms, MI 48025. www.parkinsonsmi.org
Please visit Art’s personal page of memories at www.oakgrovefh.com to share a photo or story. Arrangements by Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Manistee.
He was born on January 15, 1949, in Manistee, Michigan, the son of Arthur F. and Evelyn (Blanchard) Anderson. After graduating from Onekama High School, Art attended and graduated from Central Michigan University. Art married the love of his life, Wilma Witkop, on September 5, 1970, in Traverse City, Michigan. Art was a loving family man, and nothing was more important to him than his children and grandchildren.
Art and Wilma opened Big Al’s Pizza in May of 1973. Besides being an avid hunter and fisherman, he was also a coach and mentor to many local youth, coaching baseball, football, and soccer. He was instrumental in starting the Manistee County Junior and Senior Baseball Association and the Manistee County Youth Football Association. In addition to coaching men’s softball, he served as the State Softball Commissioner for 10 plus years. He was a fixture at the First Street Softball Diamonds. Art was a sponsor of numerous local sports teams throughout the years.
Being civically minded, Art served three terms as a City Councilman. He was also involved with the Boy Scouts, the Manistee Recreation Association, and the Manistee County Sportfishing Association.
Among his many awards, Art was recognized as the VFW’s 1986 Outstanding Citizen and was also awarded the Charles E. Schoedel Service award in 1992 for his contributions to youth sports and the 1981 Jaycees Outstanding Young Man award for his distinguished service to his community.
Art is survived by his wife, Wilma; his children David (Sharon) Anderson, Kathryn (David) Bommarito, James (Sarah) Anderson, and Jeremy (Stephany) Anderson; his grandchildren Jade (Rickie) Booth, Cole Nelson, Cadence, Keira, Kiley, and Jacob Bommarito, Abigail, Madelyne, Ozzy, Thor, Liliana, and Deco Anderson, Billy Anderson and Brookelyn Brown; great-grandchildren Aubrey Anderson, RJ and Nicholas Booth, and Cleo Johnson; granddaughter-in-law Heather Johnson; sister Helen (Randy Webb) Kamaloski; and many other family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents Arthur and Evelyn Anderson, sister M. Mary Anderson, brother Richard Anderson, grandson Levi Johnson, and his brother-in-law Richard Kamaloski.
Visitation for Art will be held on Monday March 27, 2023 from 5:00PM until 7:00PM at Oak Grove Funeral Home in Manistee and again on Tuesday March 28, 2023 from 10:00AM until 11:00AM with the service starting at 11:00AM. The family would like to invite you to join them for a luncheon at the VFW Walsh Post 4499, 1211 28th Street, Manistee, MI 49660, following the service.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to Michigan Parkinson’s Foundation, 30400 Telegraph Rd Suite 150, Bingham Farms, MI 48025. www.parkinsonsmi.org
Please visit Art’s personal page of memories at www.oakgrovefh.com to share a photo or story. Arrangements by Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Manistee.