John Ernest Anderson, Sr., aged 78, of Watertown, SD passed away on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at Jenkins Living Center.

John was born on June 15, 1946, in Waterloo, Iowa, to Ernest Alfred and Ruth Jeanne (Wilson) Anderson. He was the oldest of three children. After a brief time in Waterloo, IA, and then Clay Center, KS, John's parents bought a farm in 1952 near Pea Ridge, Arkansas, where John spent most of his growing-up years. In 1963, John's parents moved the family to Salem, Ohio, so that their children could attend a Christian School.

While attending Salem Bible College, John met the love of his life, Ethel Faithe Preteroti. They were married on June 28, 1969. During their time in Salem, Rebecca Faithe was born. After cramming four years of Bible College into six, John graduated from college in 1972, joined the Bible Missionary Church, and accepted a home mission pastorate in East Prairie, MO. Though their time in East Prairie was brief, and funds were always low, they learned many valuable lessons about trusting God. It was also at East Prairie that John Ernest Jr. joined the family. At the end of two years, they moved to Rock Island, Illinois, so that John could take some additional classes on missions at the Bible Missionary Institute. During the one year they lived in the Quad Cities, Jennifer Kay joined their growing family.

In 1976, John and Faithe were placed under appointment as missionaries to Okinawa, Japan. While initially apprehensive of the different style of food they would encounter, John became an ardent lover of Japanese food, culture, and people. In all, John and Faithe served five and a half years in Japan, during which time their fourth child, James Lloyd was born. During the middle of their second term in Japan, John was asked by the Mission Board to move to Papua New Guinea to fill a vacancy left by another missionary family that was returning to the USA on furlough. Though vastly different than Japan, John really poured out his heart in various ministries, from preaching in the local church, to holding revivals in the bush churches in his district, to teaching in the Mission Bible School training local pastors. Living in the middle of the mountainous Highlands of PNG certainly had its challenges, but John and family adapted well and thoroughly enjoyed the six years they lived there. The last of John and Faithe's children, Joshua Andrew, was born about two years before they left PNG for the last time. Anytime John told stories about Japan or Papua New Guinea, it was very evident that John left a part of his heart there.

After John and Faithe returned to the USA, they eventually settled near Dixon, MO where they attended Hephzibah Holiness Church. During their time in Dixon, John started holding church services in four different jails in the surrounding counties. On two or three separate occasions, he requested the Sheriff to lock him up with the inmates for 24 hours so they could have as long of a Bible study as the inmates wished to have. At one point the Head Chaplain of the state prison offered him a state paid position as Assistant Chaplain. He turned it down as he felt that he was more effective where he was. After four years, John moved his family to Poplar Bluff, MO, where he started ministering in the Butler County Jail.

To support his family, John continued painting houses and doing drywall repairs. When he completed a job such as fixing a damaged ceiling, you could not tell where the damaged section had been. To his many customers, he became known as Uncle John. A quick tour of his painting van showed his ability to find the easiest and most effective way to get a job done. Whether it was the tool he invented for cleaning out his paint rollers, or a hammock for taking a nap, his painting van highlighted his own unique personality and ingenuity. John also enjoyed going to auctions and yard sales and buying tools. The more unique and specialized the tool, the more he liked it.

John's favorite activity was spending time with family and friends. He told many stories of his childhood, or a life in a foreign country, with his grandchildren on his knee. Probably the thing that family and friends will remember the most is that John was the life of any occasion. He was always pulling some prank, practical joke, or teasing somebody. He was living proof that you didn't need to do wrong to have good, clean fun. Though he never made a lot of money in life, or amassed a fortune, John was always a very generous man, sharing what he had with those whom he found in need.

After 46 years of marriage, his beloved wife went home to Heaven in September of 2015. Following his wife's passing, John eventually moved to South Dakota to be closer to family. Although not involved in full-time ministry in the later years of his life, missions was always very dear to his heart.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Faithe, and two grandsons, Grayson and Gabriel Light. He is survived by his children, Rebecca (Randy) Hessler of Flemingsburg, KY, John (TerriLynn) Anderson of Terre Haute, IN, Jennifer (Paul) Light of Mitchell, SD, James (Sherri) Anderson of Greenfield, IN, and Joshua (Amber) Anderson of Washington, IN. Also left to mourn his loss are twenty-one grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and two more on the way. He is also survived by his siblings, Mike (Kathy) Anderson of Reasoner, IA, and Evelyn Eagles of Rodgers, AR, eight nieces and nephews, and many great and great-great nieces and nephews.

Funeral services and visitation will be on Friday, April 11, 2025 at the Hephzibah Holiness Church in Dixon, MO. Visitation for the family will begin at 10:00 a.m. All others are welcome to the visitation beginning at 11:00 a.m., with a memorial service following at 12:00 p.m. Rev. Archie Atwell will officiate. Internment will be at the Dixon Cemetery following the service.

Care has been entrusted to Martin-Kloeppel Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Dixon, MO.