Kenneth E. Anderson, DDS, born July 18, 1924 to Georgia Lee, nee Comstock and Don Anderson in Macon, MO. He passed away after a short illness at Rush North Shore Hospital on March 4, 2004. Ken was raised in Kenosha, WI. He attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison after which he served for a brief time in World War II. When he returned from the war, he married Dorothy Jean Groote in August of 1948. He went back to school at the University of Illinois Dental School where he graduated in 1954. Ken opened his first dental practice in the Old Irving Park area where he stayed until 1967. At that time, he opened a practice in the lower level of his home on the Northwest side of Chicago. Ken and Dorothy had three children, Claudia, Eric and Susan. Ken had a wide variety of interests. He was an accomplished artist that manifested itself in medical illustration, pencil sketch, pen and ink, water colors, acrylics and oils. He loved creating art with stained glass and had started teaching stained glass at the Park Ridge Senior Center. Ken was an avid bridge player and in his younger days, a great handball player. The Park Ridge Senior Center became an important place in his life after his retirement from dentistry in 1997. He became a familiar fixture there as a participant and a teacher. Ken was a Renaissance Man in all aspects of the word. Family came first to Ken and was proudly interwoven into all aspects of his life. It was with the greatest of pride that Ken would speak of his wife, children and grandchildren. Ken was able to successfully find that rare balance in happiness with his career and family. As a dentist, he was able to help so many in his 43 years of practice. He had his private practice but was also an associate professor at the University of Illinois Dental School until 1992 as well as volunteering for a number of years at Casa Centrale. Patients had come to know and look forward to Ken’s great sense of humor and his amazing ability to tell a joke about almost any topic. Ken had the ability to make people feel relaxed, special and equal. He has touched so many lives in his lifetime. He was preceded in death by his parents, Georgia Lee and Don Anderson; and his sister Bernice Marx. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Dorothy; his brother Don Anderson; his children Claudia (Tony) Scimeca, Eric (Sue) Anderson, Susan (Jeff Nelson); and grandchildren Dan, Kirsten, Kenneth Adam, Erica, Joshua and Ben. He will be missed by all those fortunate enough to have known him. A memorial service will be held on Monday, March 8, 2004 at 2 p.m. at South Park Church located at 1330 S. Courtland Ave. in Park Ridge, IL. Please join us in a celebration of Ken Anderson’s life. In lieu of flowers, please remember Ken in your thoughts and prayers or make a contribution to your favorite church or charity.
