Fred Ernest Anderson, 84, Olathe, KS passed away Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00am  Mon. Feb. 6 at Prince of Peace Church, 16000 W. 143rd St., Olathe, KS. Family visitation will be at the church one hour prior to Mass.  Internment at Leavenworth National Cemetery.

Fred was born Jan. 21, 1933 in Ault, CO. to Fred and Blossom Anderson. He attended Prairie View Grade School, Ault High School and earned his MFA at Colorado State Teachers College. Fred served in the Navy during the Korean War.

His teaching career spanned 42 years which included 35 years in the classrooms of Atchison, KS.  He taught 3D art and stage craft at Atchison High School and Atchison Middle School. Several of his students earned national art awards. He also taught Stage Design and Technical Theatre courses at Mount St. Scholastica College and St. Benedict College. Fred designed the sets and lighting for school theater productions and supervised their construction introducing many students to the technical theatre arts. He donated his time and talents to many community organizations and often designed and built sets for Atchison Community Theatre (Theatre Atchison), the Rivermen Male Chorus of Atchison and the Continentals of Benedictine College.  

Fred was an accomplished woodworker and master gardener. Many homes in Atchison hold examples of his artistic flair and skilled craftsmanship most notably the family home on Spring Street. 

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Peggy (Margaret) Wilkes Anderson, his daughters Susan Anderson of Topeka, Cindy Anderson of Kansas City, Tabby (Tabitha) McCarthy and husband Pat of Olathe, son Glen Anderson and wife Kristin of St. Louis, and his beloved grandchildren. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Fred’s memory to Theatre Atchison, 401 Santa Fe St, Atchison, KS 66002.