During young adulthood, Jim resided at Beatrice State Home, and then he lived independently in Superior and Hastings, Nebraska, while employed at Western Land Roller Company and Holiday Inn. In later years, Jim lived at The Kensington in Hastings from 2005 until 2022. During his last year, he moved to The Oaks skilled nursing facility in Central City, Nebraska. Jim spent many years employed as a laborer, but he devoted his life outside work to being a lifelong learner, avid traveler, and enthusiastic community and family member.
From early childhood, Jim showed a tremendous interest in learning. Despite intellectual disability, he spent hours and hours looking at National Geographic magazines–sometimes displaying them in very long rows around his house. As a young boy, he started keeping and reading every issue of the publication that he could find; by the time of his death, he owned a collection of about one thousand issues–dated from the late 1930s to the present. If a certain topic came up, Jim would remember that National Geographic had covered the subject and delight in locating and re-reading the relevant article. Over his lifetime, he eventually read numerous other magazines as well as books, particularly ones about his favorite interests–trains, space exploration, Star Wars movies, the RMS Titanic, and state fairs. Jim was an enthusiastic patron of the public library, and he spent hours and hours there researching old copies of the Hastings Tribune. When the Hastings Public Library reopened in 2017 after renovation, Jim was honored for being such a loyal patron by having an early personal tour that was featured in the local newspaper.
Complementing his interest in lifelong learning, Jim also was an avid traveler. Over the years, he enjoyed trips to a variety of exciting locations, from California to Florida and from Maine to Arizona. Many excursions were taken with The Arc of Lincoln, and Jim eagerly awaited The Arc’s yearly brochure about upcoming vacation offerings. During later decades, he thoroughly enjoyed traveling with his family to graduations, weddings, and holiday celebrations. He always was ready for a road trip, even if only to ride the van around town, and he loved thinking about the details of each travel experience–right down to specifics about routes and schedules. All travel adventures were remembered fondly.
Besides being a lifelong learner and intrepid traveler, Jim was an enthusiastic community supporter and family member who relished every occasion. State and county fairs, concerts, book sales, parades, Kool-Aid Days, and Celebration of Lights events all were eagerly awaited. Jim’s enjoyment of any live music or dancing was legendary, always bringing a smile to those around him. Such moments often happened in the company of family, with whom Jim loved to spend time. For years, he was a regular daytime dog sitter for his family’s pet basset hound Hemingway. And, throughout his adult life, Jim always put the star on top of the family Christmas tree and called everyone on Christmas Eve with updates about the latest position of Santa and his reindeer. He brought great joy to family, friends, and acquaintances.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents and by his brother, Dr. Sheridan T. Anderson, of Grand Island, Nebraska. He is survived by sister-in-law Mary Jane “Janie” Anderson of Grand Island and brothers Dr. Robert L. (Amy Kathryn “Kathy”) Anderson of Mount Vernon, Maine, and John Paul Anderson of Grand Island; nephews Neil (Kate) Anderson of Hallowell, Maine, Alec (Megan) Anderson of Bangor, Maine, and Mark (Kate) Anderson of West Roxbury, Massachusetts; great nephews and nieces Hugo, Margaret “Maggie,” Adelaide “Addy,” Leo, John Robert “J.R.,” Cora, Sophia “Sophie,” and Audrey Anderson; cousins Gary (Bonnie) Anderson of Roca, Nebraska, Dr. Michael Stewart Jones of Oxnard, California, Patrice Geila Jones of Ventura, California, and Linda Jones (Michael) Gibbs of Mamaroneck, New York, and their families.
A remembrance gathering of family members will take place in Jim’s honor on Saturday, November 18, in Portland, Maine.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to The Arc of Lincoln, Hastings Symphony Orchestra, or National Geographic Society.