James W. Anderson

James William Anderson died May 16th, 2026 in La Crosse, WI at the age of 91. He was born on April 5th, 1935, in Sioux City, IA to Norman and Elizabeth Anderson. Jim was preceded in death by his older sister, Janeen Johnson, from the Portland, OR area.

Jim grew up and attended school in Wilmette, IL. After graduating from New Trier High School, he attended college at the University of Kansas, where he became a member of the Delta Upsilon Fraternity. After two years, he entered the Army and became an infantry mechanic at Ft. Sill in Oklahoma. He then attended the University of Illinois, in Champaign-Urbana, where he received a B.A. degree in Industrial Design. This is also where he met his lifelong partner and wife of 67 years, Nancy Liggitt Jones, of Robinson, IL.

Jim started working in Industrial, Graphic, and Interior design in Chicago, IL. Jim and Nancy moved to Evanston, IL, where they raised two sons, Scott and Tim. Some of Jim’s early design works included; Graphic and Interiors for Winnebago campers, numerous household appliances for Maytag and Kenmore, Brunswick Bowling Systems, The Popeil Pocket Fisherman, the first Egg McMuffin Machines for Mc Donalds, as well as the entire interior of the Bloomingdale’s in Chicago’s One Magnificent Mile.

In Jim’s early years, he played saxophone throughout his schooling as well as in a band. He had a deep appreciation for all the arts. Some of his favorite things in his life included his jazz music collection (especially Miles Davis), his saltwater aquariums, raising and breeding dogs, coaching and volunteering for the Evanston Youth Hockey Program, houseboating on the Mississippi, fine furniture, but his greatest passion of all was for cars. Jim became an expert at restoring vintage 356 Porsche’s. He was a lifetime member of the PCA, he participated in vintage racing and rallies throughout the Midwest and had completed full restoration on over a dozen cars.

Jim and Nancy retired in 1990 to Cashiers, NC on Lake Glennville, to a home he designed. Working with a custom builder, he designed over 30 homes in North and South Carolina and a few in Georgia. In 2002, he designed and built a home on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River just north of Prairie du Chein, WI. Later, another place was designed in La Crescent, MN to be closer to his two sons and grandchildren.

No services are planned. Cards may be sent to Nancy at Brookdale Villas, 3141 E. Ave. S. #17, La Crosse, WI 54601.