Memorial

Gary Anderson, 76, of Cedar Rapids, died Monday, October 27, 2014, in his home. A time of gathering will be held Thursday, October 30 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held on Friday, October 31 at 11 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids. 

Gary was born July 22, 1938, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to Lester and Opal Anderson. He was raised in Gowrie, Iowa, and graduated from Prairie High School in Gowrie in 1956. He attended Drake University in Des Moines and graduated in 1960 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.  

He married Alice Adams in 1964, whom he met when both of them were working for LOOK magazine in Des Moines. They moved to Cedar Rapids in 1965, when he began work for Creswell, Munsell, Schubert & Zirbel advertising agency (later called CMF&Z). His son, Chris, was born in 1968. Gary later worked in a small partnership, Red Fox Studio, before rejoining CMS&Z a few years later. He remained with that agency for over 30 years, retiring in 1998. Following his retirement, he continued graphic design work, as well as painting, sculpture, drawing, silkscreen and stained glass design. 

Perhaps Gary’s proudest lifetime achievement was his design of the Tree of Five Seasons located in downtown Cedar Rapids at the corner of First Avenue and First Street N.E. His design of the Tree originated with his logo design for the City of Cedar Rapids, which he designed approximately two decades earlier. He was the co-chair of the Five Seasons Plaza Design Committee. Many of his paintings, stained glass pieces and other creations are displayed in various locations around the Cedar Rapids area, including Mercy Hospital, the Cedar Rapids central Fire Station, Westminster Presbyterian and First Lutheran churches.

Gary and Alice were longtime, active members of First Lutheran Church and the Rathbun Yacht Club. He was a captain in many sailboat races, competing quite successfully. He enjoyed golf, downhill and cross-country skiing. He was a pitcher for many seasons for his company softball team, the CMF&Z Badfish Gerbils. He served as a member of the board of Meth-Wick Manor for a number of years. He was also a longtime member of the Advertising Federation of Cedar Rapids. 

He is survived by his son, Chris, and his son-in-law, Ricky Ng, of New York, NY, and by his brother, Ron Anderson, of Casa Grande, AZ. He will be remembered for his easygoing nature, kindness, great creativity, and commitment to the Cedar Rapids community.