Chris Allen Anderson

Chris Allen Anderson, aka wood Bezhgiizhig Jacko Tahgaiwenene, 45, of Too-many-places-to-count, USA (and sometimes Canada), passed away last week at Saint Mary’s Glacier, CO.

He was born in Lansing, MI on May 16th, 1971 to Gary and Rose Anderson.

Wood graduated from Eaton Rapids High School and went on to receive many degrees and awards from Michigan Technological University.

His family will always remember him as a loving, caring, kind, compassionate, and fiercely protective son and big brother who stood by his strong ideals and became a rock of support in times of need. His nephews’ fondest memories are of his never-ending encouragement and roughhousing. A visit was never complete without laughter and tears!

Hundreds will always remember him for his witty sensibility, warm personality, wry sense of humor, his smile, his laugh, his gentle yet wild spirit, and mostly, for his raging passion towards anything he believed in. He loved to debate and talk about big ideas. He loved to disagree and learn from someone else’s perspective. He would stick to his ideals no matter the cost.  He was a volunteer firefighterÃ- but more notably a fulltime firestarter.

Chris was an advocate:  mathematics, diversity, opportunity, education, marijuana laws, indigenous rights, and radio, just to name a few. Chris single-handedly turned Sundays in Houghton, MI into Slayer Sunday, one of the most successful WMTU radio shows ever broadcasted – it became an institution.

The most passionate madman, Chris was intense in anything he was involved with – including making pickled eggs, putting skull stickers on his ride, and not cutting his hair.  He loved his truck, which was his office.  He loved his music even more… his collection was anything but small or single-genred. And he embraced his Native American heritage and the fact that he was a tribal member in the Wikwemikong First Nation in Canada.

Educations and kids? They were his mission in life! He was instrumental in the creation of the Keweenaw Family Discovery Center. He tutored kids for free and strongly believed that knowledge IS power! He was gifted at instilling confidence in students and teaching them that they can succeed, no matter how difficult, how different, or how complicated things can get, whether it be math, or life.

Chris had a huge heart, especially when it came to inspiring kids to learn. He not only taught kids, but showed them how to learn and how to love to learn…to be curious, to be life-long learners. He often gave his time and money to meet kids’ interests and needs.

He will be missed and never forgotten – even if we wanted to. Wood, we will see you on the next go’round my friend.

He is survived by his parents Gary and Rose Anderson, sisters Monica (Russ) Alger and Regina, and nephews David and Peter Alger.  His wild spirit, joy, stubbornness, talents, and rage will be celebrated on January 1st @ 1pm – Ramada Inn on Navy Street in Hancock, MI.

“p1″>And to quote the man himself, “actions speak louder than words” – so folks, show up on Sunday!  Let’s all ride this wooden rainbow after the storm.

Condolences can be sent to woodstirsthepot@gmail .com.