Allan "Andy" Lawrence ANDERSON

Allan “Andy” Lawrence Anderson was born February 6, 1935 in Dodsland, Saskatchewan and passed away August 22, 2020 in Kerrobert Hospital.

Andy lived his entire life in the Dodsland area where he farmed. Always a people person looking to socialize, he developed a passion for sports. He played baseball and fastball and did lots of curling with his brother Sid. This allowed his need for socialization to be filled. He never lost that passion throughout his whole lifetime. In his younger years he also enjoyed getting into a few tussles as he was "one tough son of a bitch".

He married his loving wife Anne in 1964 and created a wonderful family of eight kids. Unfortunately, tragedy struck in 1973 when he lost Anne and an infant daughter to childbirth complications. Andy had the determination, strength and will power, along with amazing community support, to raise eight kids on his own while continuing to farm. His strength of character and the immense pride and love he felt for his kids drove him through these challenging times. There were times he had to show some “tough love” to his kids while growing up to make sure they clearly knew the boundaries of right and wrong to ensure their safety on the farm while he tended to farm activities to provide for the family. He taught his kids about hard work, respect, values, and the power of a positive attitude. Somehow, he found time to help coach hockey, baseball and run kids to all their activities. In 1994 he married Jean McCarthy which brought much joy to his life until her passing from cancer in 2000.

Andy amassed lifelong friendships throughout all of small-town Saskatchewan through playing, coaching and watching sports especially hockey and baseball. He absolutely loved travelling the country to watch his grandchildren play sports, attend school graduations and family weddings. He enjoyed his time bull-shitting with his coffee buddies at the Kindersley Tim Horton’s and in the town of Kyle, he would say in his Andy way “they’re good sons a bitches”. The lake was his second home and he cherished every minute he could just hanging out at the lake. He created so many wonderful memories of boating, swimming, campfires and indulging with friends over an occasional drink.

Andy will be remembered most for his ability to lighten up the room when he walked in. He was loud and proud just waiting to tell someone a joke. His jokes, OMG the jokes. Hard to imagine how anyone, for that many years, could come up with the things he did. Regardless of crowd, age, gender, or race there was always one ready to be told. The thing about his jokes was this...they were jokes, and that's it, never meant to harm or hurt, but just jokes to make people laugh. Andy was larger than life, a mountain of a man in both heart and character. He brought laughter and love into every room he entered. Always time to talk and of course at least one joke.

Andy taught his kids and grandkids the lessons of hard work, to be respectful, treat people fairly, honesty is your word, have fun in life, family and friends are everything, be happy, smile, sometimes life isn’t fair ‘get over it’ and live everyday to the fullest. Andy figured out the key to being successful in life, it was all about spending time with family and friends which made his life rich. He lived life to the fullest for all his 85 years. He will be dearly missed by all.

Andy leaves to cherish his memory his children Janice (Kevin) McCarthy, David, Robert (Cheryl), Larry (Lori), Garry (Michelle), Terry (Niki), Vern (Michelle) and Lorna (Brad) McDonald, 32 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren as well as a large loving extended family Sherrie (Ted) Morin, Darryl (Debbie) McCarthy, Pat (Susan) McCarthy and Allan McCarthy and their families.

He was predeceased by his father David in 1947 and mother Josephine (née Neumeier) Anderson in 1979, wife Anne (née Storoschuk) in 1973, infant daughter, brother Sydney in 1971 and wife Jean (née Bacon) McCarthy in 2000.

Donations in memory of Andy may be made to Kerrobert & District Health Centre, P.O. Box 320, Kerrobert, SK S0L 1R0.