Robert Anderson

Robert Larry Anderson, 85, of Cedar Falls, died on Friday, February 21, 2025, at his home in Western Home Communities – Windridge. He was born on July 10, 1939, in Vinton, Iowa, the son of Phillip and Thelma (Kagley) Anderson. He graduated from Waterloo East High School in 1957, the University of Iowa for undergraduate studies and after working at John Deere, a year of medical school and a motorcycle trip to California attended dental school at the University of Iowa. It was here that he was fortunate to have found one of his lifelong passions. He practiced general dentistry for 50+ years. He would still have been practicing dentistry today if it had not been for Covid. He retired in 2020. He genuinely loved dentistry! His office staff would often say that he had a gift for making each patient feel special. One of the things he was best known for was helping patients that were most in need. His greatest passion, however, was his family. He would often recall the first time he saw Linda Lichty at Sunnyside Country Club pool wearing a black swimsuit. It took him 8 years to get the courage to ask her out on a date. Four months later they were married! On June 24, 1967, he was united in marriage to Linda Lichty in Waterloo, Iowa. He adored his wife, Linda and took thousands of pictures of her. His patients would all feel like they knew her because he would adorn the walls of his dental office with pictures of her and the rest of his family, (but by far, most were of Linda). They traveled extensively in their 57 years of marriage with some of their favorite trips being to the French Islands in the Caribbean and to Europe. He was an incredible father and grandfather. He inspired others in his family to also pursue a career in the health fields. He loved spending time with his children, whether it be biking, traveling or discussing politics. One of the things his granddaughters enjoyed most about him was his willingness to make Tik Tok videos with them. He knew how to live life to the fullest and inspired others to do the same. To run into Bob, no matter your state in life, was to risk an engaging conversation. If you were a server in a restaurant, it meant that you must neglect the rest of your tables because he was genuinely interested in the details of your life and plans you had for the future. Don’t worry, he’ll leave a good tip! If you were a friend, be prepared for the latest stock tip or trends in women’s lingerie- he was expert in both and the conversations could take a while, and often (whether you liked it or not) involved some of the previously mentioned photos! If you were family, he wanted to make sure you were prepared to care for yourself and those you love. He really, REALLY, cared about you and wanted to make sure you had all you needed to live a good life. For all of us who have encountered someone like Bob and his genuine interest in life and all those he met, a void is left in the universe when he moves on from this life to eternity. Thankfully, he leaves behind his loving family and friends to carry on the legacy of caring for all those we meet. Ok, you don’t have to talk about stocks or lingerie, but you can spend some time listening to the stories of others. Making such a conversation will make him smile. Bob is survived by wife, Linda; children, Sarah (James) Hayes of Des Moines, Kelly (Stephen) Hemsath of Minneapolis, MN, and James (Valerie) Anderson of St. Louis, MO; grandchildren, Jack Robert Hemsath, Hannah and Katharine Hayes, Riley, August, and Charlie Anderson; sister, Carol (John) Baker of Decorah; and brother, Ronald (Debbie) Anderson of Waterloo. He was preceded in death by his parents and a son-in-law, Brad Meister. A gathering of family and friends will be 4:00-7:00 p.m. Saturday, March 29, 2025, at Sunnyside Country Club in Waterloo with a celebration of life at 4:00 p.m. A private family inurnment will take place in Waterloo Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Hartman Reserve.

Robert Anderson

July 10, 1939 - February 21, 2025