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Roger Anderson
Roger Allen Anderson was born on March 5, 1959, and won his quick battle with pancreatic cancer on Sunday, July 21, 2024, when he embarked on his greatest adventure yet, heaven with his Lord and Savior Jesus.
Roger was born to Julienne (Seymour) and Raymond Anderson in Ludington where he lived his 65 years. He graduated from Ludington High School in 1977 and, as he always said, managed to squeeze four years of college into seven. He graduated with a degree in business from John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas after hopping a freight train and buying cars, including his ’67 Mustang, while attending LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas.
Despite the bonus years in college, Roger didn’t find a wife during his studies. Instead, he loved to tell the story of how the beautiful girl from Ohio was delivered right to his couch one summer day. Kelly Porter was spending the summer with her sister Gail and befriended Roger’s little sister, Lori.
Roger proposed on Christmas Eve 1985 by handing Kelly a ring with a mumbled “here.” Kelly confirmed that this did in fact mean that he wanted to marry her and the two were wed on August 16, 1986. Despite the lack of eloquence in his proposal, their marriage was filled with love, adventure, and forgiveness, and their relationship served as an inspiration for many.
It was during his college years, in 1982, that Roger began working for Don and Dorothy Carr at Kibby Creek Travel Park in Summit Township. He tried his hand at a “real job” for a couple years but his heart longed for the hands-on work and everything that was Kibby. God closed doors at a couple prominent local companies and in 1990 Don and Dorothy approached him with the opportunity to take over the park. They walked with Roger and Kelly in those early years and made it possible for him to fulfill many dreams that eventually made Kibby Creek the place that it is today. This summer was his 35th year as the owner and his wife and children are honored to carry on his legacy of hospitality and hard work.
Roger was blessed with the opportunity to make a living creating a place for families to connect and make memories together, which was also one of his biggest joys in his own life. Roger craved adventure and was always eager to hit the road, be it to a local or out-of-town restaurant, the movie theater, or some place far away. In his life he traveled to England, France, Sweden, Italy, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Canada and adventured in or through 46 states. All of his adventures were taken with the family he loved so much and so well. He taught us and so many others the importance of taking the trip and taking time with those you love.
Despite Roger’s restless nature that made him eager for new adventures, he was known to be steadfast. Roger was fiercely loyal to his church, his family, his wife, his children, and his job. No matter what came his way, he demonstrated the value of commitment and handed down that legacy to his children. Love is a choice, and it was a choice that he made every single day. He showed up for his people and his presence will be sincerely missed.
Roger is reunited with his parents, as well as several grand-babies and grand-nieces and grand-nephews that were born to heaven. He leaves behind his loving wife, Kelly. They would’ve celebrated their 38th anniversary in August. Roger also leaves behind his siblings and their spouses, whom he also considered his siblings: Dwight and Joyce Anderson, Sharon Anderson Nelson, and Lori and Chris Eldredge; his three children and their spouses, whom he also considered his own: Megan and David Lundin, James (Jimmy) and Caitlyn Anderson, and Joseph (Joey) Anderson; and his seven dearly loved grandchildren: Elsa, Joel, Ray, Lily, Tommy, Andy, and Axel. Numerous cousins, a dear great aunt and uncle, many nieces and nephews, and family and friends across the world will also miss him dearly. All of us long for the day when we will be reunited with him again in a perfect world with our Risen King.
In his final weeks, Roger had peace about the Home that awaited him with Jesus and wanted everyone to know of the hope that he had. In honor of his legacy, we hope that you take time with your loved ones, that you’re inspired to dream big dreams and work hard, that you’ll do something kind for someone else, and that you too will find the hope in Jesus that no sickness, evil, or even death itself can take away.
O, Death, where is your sting?
A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, July 28, 2024, at 3:30 p.m. at Cornerstone Baptist Church, in Ludington. Visitation begins at 2 p.m. at the church.
Arrangements were entrusted to Oak Grove Funeral Home of Ludington, www.OakGroveLudington.com.
