John Wesley Anderson

John Wesley “Wes” Anderson, 78, of Kenney and Harlingen, Texas, passed away peacefully on September 3, 2023, at his family residence in Kenney, Illinois. Born on February 22, 1945, in Decatur, Illinois, Wes was the son of B.J. “Jack” and Mary (Davis) Anderson. He married Joan Kay Herman on February 14, 1970, and the two shared more than five decades of marriage and companionship.

Wes lived a life rooted in service and the land. After graduating from Warrensburg‑Latham High School in 1963, he served four years in the United States Air Force, including time in Okinawa. Following his military service, Wes returned to central Illinois, where he farmed in the Beason and Kenney area for nearly four decades and later operated Anderson Refrigeration and Electric. His steadiness, practical skills, and work ethic were part of the fabric of his community.

A man who cared about his neighbors, Wes served as a member and trustee of the Kenney Fire Department and contributed his time as a board member of the Bank of Kenney. He took pleasure in local community organizations and clubs, including Prairie State Model T Ford Club of America and Prairie A’s Model A Club. For many years he and Joan split their time between Illinois and winters spent in Texas, welcoming friends in both places.

Wes is remembered by his wife, Joan Kay Anderson; their children, John William (Michelle) Anderson of Palm Harbor, Florida, and Susan Munoz of Kenney, Illinois; and his grandchildren Kigan Munoz, Jack Anderson, Jorie Anderson, and Payton Anderson. He is also survived by his sister Phyllis (Roger) Thomas of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and by extended family and many friends in Kenney and Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his in‑laws, Paul and Mildred Herman.

The family honored Wes with a funeral service on September 11, 2023, at Calvert Funeral Home in Clinton, Illinois, followed by burial at Memorial Park Cemetery with military honors. In keeping with his commitment to community, memorials were suggested for the Kenney Fire and Rescue.

Wes’s life was one of steady service — to his country, to his family, and to the small towns he called home. He will be remembered for his quiet leadership, his dedication to farming and to practical work, and the hospitality he and Joan shared with friends and neighbors.