George "Jack" Franklin Anderson

George Franklin Anderson, “Jack,” 83, left this world on Jan. 1, 2025. He was born to Marguerite and Jesse Anderson of Farmer City, Illinois, on March 10, 1941.On St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1962, he said, “Now or never Babe” and asked the love of his life, Rita Raye Gile, to elope with him to Geneva, Illinois. They were wed again on Aug. 4, 1962, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, in DeKalb, Illinois. They also renewed their vows multiple times, on their 25th and 50th anniversaries and again on a Love Boat cruise with friends. He was very happy to be married and always wore his wedding ring with pride.George spent his early life in Farmer City, Illinois, moving to DeKalb his sophomore year and graduating from DeKalb High School with the class of 1959. After high school he worked at the family owned Danish Bakery in DeKalb and studied business management at Kishwaukee College and Northern Illinois University. He spent the next 40 years working for the Richardson Company which later became Spaulding Composites Specialty Division in DeKalb in multiple roles, including traveling to plants in Smyrna, Tennessee and Rochester, New Hampshire, and retiring as a General Foreman in DeKalb.An avid outdoorsman, he was a member of the DeKalb County Anglers Club and attended many fishing outings all over the Midwest, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi and even traveled to Canada twice a year. He was active at the Sycamore Sportsman’s Club, where he enjoyed participating in multiple trap shooting leagues with his son Jeff and brother-in-law Terry. They competed in tournaments across the state and managed to win more than a few awards. A lover of cars, He was a member of the Late Great Chevy Association for over 50 years. He rebuilt his favorite car a 1962 “409” Impala Super Sport using many of the original parts from the car he originally owned. He loved his car and was proud to display it at various local car shows and took home several trophies and awards.George was a Cub Scout Master, a 4-H Assistant Leader and a Pine Wood Derby master builder. George enjoyed helping others. He worked with the Lions Club volunteering with the handicap fishing derby for many years, spending the morning precatching fish so they could feel what it was like to catch a fish. He loved watching the participants’ faces light up as they reeled in their big catches. He was a foster parent for more than 20 years with the DeKalb County Juvenile Court Services, housing multiple children short and longterm. Many of them he remained close to as he felt as if they were his own.George loved all the Chicago sports teams. In 1985 he had the opportunity to meet all the Super Bowl Bears players at a “Meet & Greet Day” getting all their pictures and autographs. He loved watching the Cubs, especially when they finally won the World Series, watching Bobby Hull and the Blackhawks and loved watching Michael Jordon play for the Bulls. He even got to see him play in person several times with tickets from his son Tom. He was a loyal NASCAR fan following Dale Earnhardt and Dale Jr. and attended many races at multiple race tracks at Daytona, Talladega, Atlanta, Bristol, Chicago, Michigan and Indianapolis.George leaves behind his wife, Rita; son Steve; grandchildren Allison (Michael), Jared, Brandon, Bradley, Hayden and Cole; and great-grandkids Jaime, Irelyn and Keeva who brought him so much joy. His daughters-in-law Amy and Ruth Ann; sisters Louise Jiles and Carolyn Jiles; brother-in-law Dale Marshall; sisters-in-law Roxee Anderson, Kaye Anderson, JoEllen (Roger) Montavon and Linda Gile (Jerry) Busby; foster kids Mike Banās and Millie Hanson; and many beloved (46) nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents Jesse and Marguerite, two sons Jeff and Tom; great-grandson Declan; brothers Bob, Duane, Jim, (twins Ronald and Donald in infancy); sisters Betty Jean, Anna Mae, Mary Lou, Judy and (Martha Sue in childhood); brothers-in-law Bud Lewis, Bob Okeson, Bob Flegal, Harry Flegal, Claude Jiles, Walter Jiles Jr., Jerry Anderson and Terry Gile; sisters-in-law Alice ”Mickey” Lati, Sylvia Anderson and a foster son Brian Hill.A true believer in the Lord, he attended multiple places of worship. While in Powell, Wyoming, he found a home at Glad Tidings Assembly of God where he spent most of the week in various men’s groups, bible studies and of course Sunday worship which he rarely missed if he could help it.We rejoice that George is whole once again — laughing and joking, playing ball with his sons, cards with his siblings, talking cars with his buddies and fishing in heaven. He worshiped his family, wife, sons and grandkids, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews and friends from any and all activities they were involved in. There was nothing he wasn’t willing to do for any of them.A celebration of life was held at the Glad Tidings Assembly of God Church in Powell, Wyoming, on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025 at 10 a.m. A visitation will be held at Anderson Funeral Home in DeKalb Thursday, Jan. 9, 4-7 p.m. Services will be held at Bethel Assembly of God in Sycamore, Illinois, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Afton Cemetery in DeKalb, Illinois. Arrangements made by Anderson Funeral Home in DeKalb. For information, visit www.AndersonFuneralHomeLtd.com or call 815-756-1022.