Gregory Vern Anderson

Munising

Gregory Vern Anderson, age 65, of Munising, lost his battle to brain cancer while surrounded by his family on Tuesday afternoon, February 12, 2019 at the Mease Countryside Hospital in Safety Harbor, Florida.  Greg was born in Munising on December 30, 1953.  He was raised by his mother, Shirley Anderson in Brown’s Addition, and Greg attended Mather High School.  He worked for Ed Coryell planting seedlings and helping him with his business.  Greg then did landscaping work when he moved out east to New Jersey.  It was there where he met his future wife, Mary Ann Smith.  They were married on October 6, 1973 and returned to Greg’s hometown of Munising and raised their two sons.  In 1985, Greg opened his own business and started taking care of cemetery lots at Maple Grove Cemetery.  His business expanded to include landscaping, installing sprinkler systems, and planting trees.  Greg’s business beautified many residences and commercial businesses in the Munising area.  Many of his jobs in the Munising area included work at the Bowerman Funeral Home, the planting of the trees throughout the City of Munising, the Holiday and Shell gas stations, many hotels in Munising and Wetmore, Hiawatha Telephone Company, the Munising Credit Union, Superior Eye Care, and the Munising Post Office.  Greg also worked on projects in Mackinaw City, Appleton, Three Rivers, St. Ignace, Sault Ste. Marie, and Marquette.  His natural talents of his self-learned profession and his creativity made the places where he worked more beautiful.  Greg taught his sons how to work hard and mentored them while they were growing up. He loved what he did and was a hard-working and strong man who wanted to provide for his family.  When the grass wasn’t growing, Greg kept busy with snow removal.  A few years ago, he gave up the snow removal and he and Mary Ann enjoyed winters down in Florida.

He enjoyed yearly fishing trips with his sons on the Big Lake with Mitch Mattson out of Shelter Bay, and he was to take a trip with each of his sons out to Colorado on an elk hunt.  Greg and Mary Ann built a log home on Perch Lake and he enjoyed entertaining family and friends, especially on the 4th of July and New Years Eve.  Greg loved country music and country music festivals and concerts.  He turned countless people into fans of the festivals who to this day, still attend and make lifelong friends.  Greg donated his equipment to the 4th of July fireworks crew and was always a caring and giving man.  He also enjoyed camping and sitting on the deck with Mary Ann overlooking Lake Superior.  Greg took many trips with his aunt and uncle, Jean and Dick Morrison, who were both like parents to Greg.  They enjoyed several of cruises, Caribbean trips, road trips and one infamous train ride.  Those precious memories always made Greg happy.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years – Mary Ann Anderson of Munising; their sons – Andrew Anderson of Kimberly, WI and Paul Anderson of Stephenson, MI; grandchildren – Sean, Brett, Morgan, Ethan, Gavin, and Adrian; step-brother – Arthur-Paul (Jane) Denny; step-sisters – Cathy (Bill) Pauli and Marcia Brown; father-in-law – Harry (Dorothy) Smith; and numerous cousins and friends in Michigan and Florida.  Greg was preceded in death by his mother Shirley Denny, his step-father Art Denny, honorary parents Jean and Dick Morrison, and mother-in-law – Barbara Hirschlein.

Services will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home in Munising on Friday, March 1, 2019.  Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.  Pastor Paul Kelto will conduct Greg’s funeral service in the funeral home’s chapel at 2:00 p.m.   Because after work on Friday was Greg’s favorite time of the week, there will be a gathering at the Barge Inn on Friday beginning at 5:00 p.m. for a time of fellowship, stories, laughs, and a toast in memory of Greg.

Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising on Friday, May 31, 2019 at 12:30 p.m.