Henry Andersen

Rev. Henry William Andersen, 87, Jan. 16, 1925 - Sept. 03, 2012 Henry William Andersen, a retired Presbyterian minister, died at Holladay Park Plaza in Portland on Sept. 3, surrounded by his beloved family. Hank was born on Jan. 16, 1925, in Omaha, Neb. to Henry and Mildred Andersen. His studies at the University of Nebraska were interrupted by WWII. Hank's experiences as an infantry squad leader, including surviving a devastating Christmas Eve, 1944, sinking of his troopship in the English Channel; battle stars; a Purple Heart; and other citations changed the direction of his life from law to the ordained ministry. His Christmas Eve experience was the subject of a Dec. 23, 2011, PBS News Hour report. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/religion/july-dec11/christmas_12-23.html After the war, he returned to University of Nebraska where he met and married Mary Esther Dunkin, who survives him. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on Aug. 30. Mary was the consummate minister's wife, companion and mother. Together they had four children, Jennifer Rhys of Vancouver, B.C., Henry Thomas Jessica of Salem, Timothy Dunkin Elizabeth of Minneapolis, Minn. and Barbara John of San Antonio, Texas; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He graduated with Honors in Theology from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, which established two annual Henry W. Andersen Awards in Pastoral Ministry and in Preaching. He did post-graduate study at Yale Divinity School and at Mansfield College, Oxford, England. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree by Buena Vista College and received the University of Nebraska and McCormick Seminary Distinguished Alumnus awards. He wrote many articles for religious journals and wrote and spoke on the German theologian and WWII martyr, Dietrich Bonheoffer, a personal hero. Over 40 years, Hank served four Presbyterian churches as pastor and head of staff; in Ellsworth and Wichita, Kan., LaGrange, Ill. and Cleveland Heights, Ohio. In every church he advocated for racial, economic and social justice. He believed that love and justice were inseparable, that love of God and love of one's neighbor were necessary to establish a just world, and was committed to working for social change to create a world in which the poor would have justice, not mere charity. He held numerous local, national and international church positions and was active in the greater community. He was an elected member of the school board in LaGrange. He was the founder of the Cleveland Covenant and the Greater Cleveland Roundtable, multi-racial urban coalitions of religious and business leaders working to improve race relations, public education, employment, and housing. He inspired international religious, medical and business leaders to work on concrete solutions to problems facing the developing world and in 1982, delivered the keynote address at a United Nations conference on developing nations. From 1982 until 1991, he served on the Nestle Infant Formula Commission, chaired by former Senator and Secretary of State Edmund Muskie. In service to this Commission, he engaged in on-site inspections of Nestle's practices in Tanzania, Kenya, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brazil and Argentina. The Commission's work led to a lasting change in Nestle's practices. In retirement, Hank and Mary lived on Vashon Island, Wash., Minneapolis, Minn. and at Holladay Park Plaza in Portland. Hank and Mary were world travelers who made lasting friends wherever they went. Hank loved life and sought to engage it fully and faithfully in every role he assumed. His sense of humor and wonderful laugh endeared him to everyone. He was present with each person he met and made each one feel special. He was sweet, kind, and gentle, but powerful for the greater good and for social justice. He was down-to-earth yet filled with an inner light which unceasingly radiated to all. His impact is lasting. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Henry W. and Mary E. Andersen Global Awareness Fund at McCormick Theological Seminary, 5460 S. University Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60615 or to The Memorial Fund of Fairmount Presbyterian Church, 2757 Fairmount Boulevard, Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118 where Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, October 20 at 10:00 a.m. with Military Service at 9:30 in the Garth of Fairmount Presbyterian Church.


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