George E. Anderson Jr.

George E. Anderson Jr was born at home in Kaukauna, WI on October 29, 1940 to George and Florence (Baumgarten) Anderson. He passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on February 1, 2025 after bravely living with cancer.

George grew up on Beaulieu Hill in Kaukauna and had fond memories of his childhood spent enjoying the 1000 Islands and playing sports. It is there that his easygoing temperament and quick smile earned him the nickname “Hap”. He attended St. Mary’s School followed by Kaukauna High School, graduating in 1958. He attended Central State College at Stevens Point graduating in 1963. He began his teaching career in Fall of 1963 in Crandon, WI, but returned home in 1964 to teach at Kaukauna High School. In 1967 he completed a Master’s degree in Counseling from Northern Michigan University.  He married Antoinette Anderson (Walicki) in 1967 and together they built a family and home in Kaukauna.

George was a firm believer in the transformative power of education and was able to live his calling serving as a teacher, coach, and guidance counselor at Kaukauna High School for 37 years. He truly loved his job and was honored to work with so many wonderful students, parents, and colleagues. In retirement, there was no greater reward than being greeted warmly by multiple generations of former students and sharing stories and life updates during his daily trips to the Piggly Wiggly and elsewhere around town.  

George lived a life of love and service to his family and his community. He was a true family man who was thoughtful, loving, supportive, and filled with pride in his four children and eight grandchildren. He enjoyed traveling with his wife and being present in his family’s lives. He was a keen observer of life and nature and had a profound appreciation for the simple things. George was a lifelong outdoorsman and conservationist with a passion for trapping muskrats, hunting, and fishing. George freely gave his time and talents to help others and particularly enjoyed volunteering at the 1000 Islands Environmental Center and St. Mary’s church. He had a gentle sense of humor and could always be counted on for a good “dad joke”.

George gave much, asked for little, and always felt “truly blessed”.

George is survived by his wife, Antoinette; children Rebecca (Dal Vernon) Reising, Christopher (Johanna) Anderson, Jennifer Anderson, Michael (Krista) Anderson, grandchildren Grant, Kate, and Cole Reising and Dane, Nicholas, Evan, Xavier and Astrid Anderson; brother David (Pat) Anderson; brothers and sisters-in-laws Diane Anderson, Stanley (Carol) Walicki, Debra (Dale) Curley; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

George was preceded in death by his daughter Katherine; parents; brother, Karl Anderson; sisters, Mary Anderson-Offer and Susan Childs; father and mother-in-law Stanley and Helen Walicki; sister-in-law Jeanette Jelinek.

The funeral mass will be held at noon on Saturday February 8, 2025 at St. Katharine Drexel Parish, St. Mary’s Church, 119 W. 7th St., Kaukauna, WI. A time for visitation will be held on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of Mass.  For online condolences please visit www.verkuilenfh.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions will be used to create a memorial scholarship, or can be made directly to the 1000 Islands Environmental Center via their website https://1000islandsenvironmentalcenter.org/.