Dr. Andersen was born December 5, 1924, in Missouri Valley, Iowa, son of Chris and Marian (Christiansen) Andersen. He graduated from Missouri Valley High School, and then attended the University of Iowa and the University of Pennsylvania for his undergraduate work. He then entered the United States Army serving during WWII. The Army then sent him to medical school at Johns Hopkins College of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, where he graduated in 1949. On June 23, 1949 he married Marilyn Baumgartner at St. Sebald Lutheran Church in Strawberry Point. Dr. Andersen practiced medicine in the Center Point area from January of 1951 to the summer of 2001. Medicine was his life-long passion and he was a very respected doctor by his patients and peers. He was very proud of the fact that he was one the last country doctors who still made house calls. Dr. Andersen also had a dairy farm that brought him great pleasure. He enjoyed reading medical journals, historical books, gardening, and arguing politics. He was a member of the Linn County Medical Society, Diplomate of the American Academy of Family Practice, and a member of the United Methodist Church of Center Point. After his retirement, he continued to see patients and do volunteer work for the Community Health Free Clinic until his death. He and his wife established the Kenneth and Marilyn Andersen scholarship fund for Center Point-Urbana High School seniors. Dr. Andersen and his wife were instrumental in development of the expansion of the Center Point Public Library which will be named in their honor. He was most proud of his children and grandchildren’s accomplishments.
He was preceded in death by one grandchild, Noah Potter; five brothers, and three sisters.