Of Chelsea, Michigan, age 86, died Tuesday, February 9, 2021, at Silver Maples of Chelsea. He was born April 29, 1934 in Yale, Iowa, the son of Albert Frank & Agnes (Leo) Anderson.

On Feb. 6, 1959, he married Charlotte Ann Houston in Sedalia, MO, and she preceded him in death on October 9, 2015. Survivors include two sons, Albert F. “Andy” (Margaret) Anderson III of Muskego, WI, Paul (Faye) Anderson of Ann Arbor; a son-in-law, Dennis Higgins of Chelsea; and 5 grandchildren, Albert F. “Bert” Anderson IV, Vincent Anderson; Leela Anderson, Frank Anderson; and A.J. Higgins. He was also preceded in death by his daughter, Mary Higgins.

Albert's life took him from small-town Iowa to a career in data analysis at a leading center of population studies. He loved sports, first in basketball and baseball at tiny Boxholm High School, then in baseball at Iowa State University, and later in recreational softball and as a fan of University of Michigan sports and the Detroit Tigers. While at Iowa State, he earned a doctorate in sociology and then went on to teach sociology at Drake University.
Albert always enjoyed new technology, including hi-fi equipment and radio-controlled model planes. Technology led him to his true career in computer programming and data analysis, first as a computer pioneer at Drake and then with the University of Michigan's Population Studies Center. His favorite projects were establishing a learning center in Nepal, and starting an innovative business focused on advanced social data analysis tools.

 A memorial service will take place on Saturday, April 30, 3:00 p.m., at Cole Funeral Chapel in Chelsea. A private burial will take place at Oak Grove East Cemetery in Chelsea. In lieu of gifts, memorial contributions may be made to Doctors without Borders. 

Click here to watch the video of Albert's memorial service

 

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