Jiken, Indonesia - Gerhardt (Gary) Stephen Anderson died on June 7, 2025, a few weeks shy of his 70th birthday with his wife, Yanti, at his side.

Gary had been living in Indonesia with his wife and son Joseph since 2015.

Gary was born on June 20, 1955, to Virginia (Molitor) Anderson and Gordon Anderson in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He came home to two sisters happy to have a baby brother, Mary (Susie) and Elizabeth (Lizzie). Gary's younger brother, Gordon Jr. (Gordie), made a family of four children in 1956.

Gary spent his childhood in Minneapolis, playing in Bryant Square Park, going to the lakes on warm summer days, exploring the railroad tracks, and sometimes skipping grade school because the weather was just too nice to be inside. Gordie was his constant companion.

When the family moved to a small farm in Lester Prairie on the Crow River, Gary learned to bale hay and take care of pigs and chickens. Wandering up and down the Crow River Gary and his brother found two discarded bikes, and after a little tinkering and repair learned to ride bikes.

Gary spent much of his young adulthood traveling the country, hitchhiking everywhere. We only heard some of the stories, perhaps just as well. He was not afraid to strike out on his own. We were always glad when he came home.

Gary possessed an amazing talent mix of technical and creative abilities. He could fix anything. In one of his apartments Gary repaired all the cabinet hinges, door pulls, and the old double hung windows. He set up a stained glass workspace in a closet and proceeded to create painstaking and beautiful stained glass art. Gary fashioned a long-stemmed rose and other items out of metal.

Long nights on the farm turned into card-playing marathons. If you weren't careful, you'd notice that Gary usually won Crazy Eights or War - he'd get everyone laughing while he slipped 2 or 3 cards on the pile.

Gary was preceded in death by his mother and father. Gary leaves behind his devoted wife of 19 years, Yanti, and much-adored son, Joseph. Gary took great delight in Joseph throughout his life, sharing his love of nature with his son in his adopted country. Gary and Yanti built a beautiful home in Jiken (in Blora, central Java, Indonesia) with an outdoor kitchen, where Gary was proud of being able to pick papaya in his backyard.

Gary also leaves behind his siblings, Mary Littfin, Elizabeth Bredeson (Larry) and Gordon Anderson Jr. Gary had a son by a previous relationship, Michael Blackwell. Gary's nieces and nephews have memories of the uncle who could make everyone laugh.

A memorial gathering for Gary will be held on September 27th from 2 to 5 p.m. at First Universalist Church, 3400 Dupont Ave South in Minneapolis. The family welcomes friends and relatives to join us in celebrating the life of a complicated, creative person. Gary, you traveled your life - in and out of ours - and you will always be remembered and loved. May you be at peace.