Dear Joan and family of Gordon,

We were always so impressed with Gordon’s talents and understated ways. He was a man of integrity, wry humor,  compassion, artistry, and humility. We always felt such comfort  when we were in Gordon’s presence. As he had a soothing and relaxing aura about him. We will dearly miss knowing that Gordon is just up the road a piece at Lake Pend Oreille, and that we can go visit he and his beautiful wife Joan  lakeside.  With profound sympathy for your loss, Gina  and Steve Brooks.

Gordon took Annalia on her first boat ride and he had such a wonderful way with children.  Erika and Annalia, now 5-years-old send their condolences and love too.
Erika and Annalia French-Arnold

The first time I met Gordon was when checking out books at the Sandpoint Library years ago and finding out that he was married to Joan Lassen (our families go back generations) on Martin Bay. He was always a highlight of our library visits. And then!  You and Gordon, Rich and I became great friends and every summer, when we're headed to Lake Pend Oreille, we look forward to our get-togethers.   We are also so appreciative of Gordon taking us in the boat for a ride around the lake, knowing we don't have a boat,  and his eternally good humor.  Thank you also for taking Juliana around the lake when she visited; she enjoyed the boat ride immensely. 

Joan, you and Gordon were so well matched. What a joy it was to hear you sing together at the farmers market and when you came to visit us in St. Helena.  We will miss him greatly. Please know that we are always here for you, Joan and, even though it won't be the same without Gordon, we look forward to continuing to share dinners, eBike rides, walks and memories, every summer with you!   As you know, I have about 50 photos of the two of you!
With love, Susan French and Rich Arnold

What fun we had being entertained by Gordon and Joan!

Jeff and I made an instant connection with  Gordon and Joan on a  visit to West Cliff Inn in Santa Cruz in December of 2022. Over happy hours and breakfasts, we learned of their adventures and love of music. They were there to celebrate and anniversary.  We had gone to Santa Cruz for a Tommy Emmanuel concert, which sparked shared music conversations. 

Months later, we met them in Sacramento for a wonderful Dave Wilcox concert, and they visited us at our home in Arnold. Here they are at Calaveras Big Trees State Park....we had to convince Gordon to put on long pants for our snowy stroll!

Our memories with Gordon took place mostly outdoors. We enjoyed times visiting at Pend Oreille Lake- conversations on the deck, Gordon enjoying taking us out in the boat for sightseeing and lunch at Hope, strolls, bike rides, campfires, games, music, and food, of course! There were group camp outs with more time to relax, visit, enjoy the company, and be immersed in comfortable friendship. 
Gordon was always interesting to talk with, so knowledgeable, kind,  with varied interests. I loved the way his grin lit up his whole face and how much he and Joan cared about their families and friends.
We are so sorry that his family and friends didn’t have more years to enjoy having him in their lives.  Sending love!

Dear Joan and your shared family,
         We feel so fortunate to have met you and Gordon!! We already knew of you both, but hadn't had the pleasure of really knowing you !  
           We have so many memories of time spent together on or near Lake Pend Oreille as well as here in Jackson, Wyoming! Through swims, kayaks, card games, frosty beers, and songs by you both, we passed many hours in our favorite places to live!
           Thank you for those hours!
Love, Joanie, Espe, Cooper and Walker

I knew Joan and counted her as a dear and precious friend before I knew Gordon.  I loved Gordon before I met him because I already knew how much he loved Joan.  It is the steadfastness and depth of Gordon's devotion to Joan that anchors all my other memories of Gordon as well as his warmth and humor and the lovely music making and relationship he and Joan shared.

We send our love and prayers to Joan and to Gordon's family.
Katherine and Andrew Nestler

A wonderful visit to Cape Cod by these two special friends. Joan and I lived together at age 20. It was so special to get to know Gordon.  May he rest in peace.  He will be missed! ❤️💕

Joan and family,
   I am so very sorry for your loss.  Gordon will be missed by not only his family but many friends who knew him.   The music he made not only with you but the years before when he would sing to our kids.  Even before they were born he would sing and play his guitar . As the Mom of his kids Josh and Jessie, they would get quiet and seem to listen.  We were married in 77. He had a voice so similar to James Taylor and would amaze people because he also looked like him.  He had more than a few people ask him if he was in fact him.  He'd just snicker a little and say...I wish.  He was also an amazing cook and could usually just create a fine dish without looking at a recipe.  
  He loved his kids....all of them...and all his grands.  He was blessed to have you Joan, to love, to sing and perform with, to be his better half. I was only married to him for 18 years and value those years too.  
  Rest in Peace old friend.  Watch over all your kids and Joan and keep them safe.  
  In loving Memory... Marlea

To the Family and Loved Ones of cousin Gordon.  You have my deepest condolences.  Although I didn't see a lot of him in my life, I always hoped he would show up at a family gathering, as he helped inspire my love for music.  When I was a child, I thought that he secretly was Gordon Lightfoot because of his mustache, hair, and his guitar.  He has a great soul.  Much love to you all.

Great summertime reunions with Gordon and Joan. Gordon was such a great host. We will miss him so much.

Gordon was my supervisor at a library for a number of years. I always thought I was lucky to have him .

Joan, I'm so sorry for your loss; we'll miss seeing Gordon in the summer hood. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help out.
Ted Wert

I visited Gordon and Joan each summer at Lake Pend Oreille and remember Gordon's adventurous spirit, his stories of where they had been traveling, the people they met and places they had seen. I remember the summer he got his boat and took us to Hope for lunch, of going to see Laura Love performing in Sandpoint and watching Gordon and Joan sing at the Farmer's Market. Gordon was an inspiration to live life to the fullest. All of them are treasured memories that I'll hold dear forever. Your laugher and spirit will forever be a part of a shared story that ended too soon. Goodbye to a dear friend.

I knew Joan for quite some time before Gordon came into her life.  Gordon was such a kind and caring soul, who was an incredible cook and made beautiful music; but above all else the unconditional love he showed my good friend will always be his most endearing quality to me.  I’m so glad he came into her life and will always be thankful for the years they had together, and it gave us a chance to know this fun and thoughtful man too.

I've known Gordon all my life. As younger children, our families spent a LOT of time together...it all seemed easy and natural. I think Gordon set an amazing example for us all of goodness and kindness, and his love of music, James Taylor especially, stands out in my mind. Though we did not spend as much time together in later years, at crucial family gatherings he and Joan were always there with a song, a kind word, and a steady presence. I will miss him always, and give thanks for the good man he was.

Uncle John and Gordie, me and Janet Anderson, outside the big cottage we all rented for the week.

I am Ann Boisclair, Gordie's cousin on his Dad's side.  My family visited every other year when the Andersons (John's and Eugene's) and we would take a house at the beach for a joyous visit.  Middle of summer, everyone in jackets.  Those days are some of my most cherished memories of childhood. I am not sure which child is in the 3rd picture but that is how I still think of the beach. Probably Curtis or Joan, my sister, both the youngest kids.

Gordon (at front left, in white shirt and tie) was one of 13 grandchildren of Russell & Jessie Parker, and boy did we have fun back in the day! We all remember the big family Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, with games of Kick the Can in the back yard afterwards. 

Between my mother, Shirley, and her sister, Jean, there were seven of us kids, and when we were young and living nearby in the Portland area and later Albany, we saw a lot of Gordon and his brother Curt.  In later years, we didn't see as much of Gordon as we would have wished, but all times with him and Joan were treasured. We could all see how absolutely perfect they were for each other, how much love they had for each other and for family. It was always special when they came to family gatherings, and especially when they sang for us, as they were always happy to do.

I also found out in recent years, from his daughter, Jessie, what a truly amazing dad he was, with his devotion, teaching his daughter woodworking, etc., and his unfailing love for his family.

Gordon and his gentle, loving spirit, with its ever-present big smile, will always live inside us.

I've been going through family photos (I'm Gordon's cousin), and what struck me most was how in the photos of Gordon and Joan together, their deep and lasting love and affection for each other is always so clear. This was at the wedding of Gordon's Aunt Shirley in 1996.

Gordon and I worked together for over 20 years. We had lots of fun at the library during our careers. We went from the old library to the new one and then on to an expansion of the new one. We saw so many changes over those years. He made working at the library something to look forward to and will be missed.

Growing up, it was always special day when cousin Gordon was around and brought out his guitar.  Everyone just gathered around him. I so loved that our paths crossed again in our later years, like the 2019 cousins reunion at Cultus Lake, and visits on the peninsula with Curt and Cathy.  We’re all still gathering around your memory, Gordon, and missing you.

When I was a little kid, my family would visit our cousins in Oregon. To me, Gordon was one of the "big kids," so I played with Gordon's younger brother, Curtis. It wasn’t until years later that I got to know him--across the dinner table. He came to our home in the Chicago area for a break from military meals while stationed at the Great Lakes Naval Base for Coast Guard training. Even later, we began receiving Gordon's wonderful shipments of Cougar Gold cheese. My parents, who were Gordon's aunt and uncle, were especially fond of this cheese!
In the late 1970s, I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and was able to attend Anderson family events in Oregon. I remember the 50th wedding anniversary party for Gordon's parents, where Gordon and Joan performed for the crowd. When Gordon and Joan began spending half the year in Morro Bay, they visited me. After I went through a difficult divorce, they drove up to take me to a bluegrass show at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley. That meant a lot to me, and I will really miss him. Rest in peace Gordie!
--Joan Starr (the other Joan)

Becky and I (Greg) Spent a few months in Morro Bay several years ago and had some good times with Gordon and Joan.  We really enjoyed listening to their music when they played at The Dockside and just spending  time with them.  I didn’t see him a lot growing up, but always enjoyed the time we spent together.  He was a caring person with a really good heart.     Greg and Becky

Gordon was always such a kind and calm presence during our meet ups in Morro Bay.  He was a talented musician who Mark enjoyed playing with and talking about guitars!

My earliest memory of Gordon was around 1969, when he & Curt & their dad helped our family shovel gravel into the pit that became our swimming pool in Albany. He was always the tall, lanky, older, soft-spoken, guitar-playing cousin that I never got to know too well because of the age gap, but enjoyed visiting with him & Joan more often in later years and marveling at their musical talents. He will be deeply missed.

Will miss this dear man, kind gentleman and sweet friend.  Much love to you Joan and deepest sympathies to the family ❤️

We will miss Gordon. He was a joy to be around and brought a warm and loving soul to our family. Gordon reached out and really listened. I will never forget his kindness to me and the beautiful music he made with Joan and shared with us. I feel lucky to have known him.  With love and sympathy,  Cousin Ann Mc.

How lucky are we to have known Gordon! His warmth and genuine kindness made an immediate and lasting impression on Ty and I. 

I will always cherish the afternoon we spent with Gordon and Joan in Santa Cruz, hearing their beautiful stories and songs. It’s very clear that their life was one filled with love and joy.

Our deepest condolences to Joan and the rest of the family. Gordon will always be remembered fondly. ❤️

We will always cherish the local history knowledge Gordon shared with us, his excellent book recommendations, and his kindness as a delightful host.

Practicing (and private concert!) in Idaho.   So wonderful spending time together over July 4th week.

Connie G, Gordon,  Stacy and Joan enjoying the sunshine in Morro Bay,  CA.

Making music at Dockside Too in Morro Bay,  CA.   Always a wonderful lunchtime treat!

Beautiful day on the mountain!
Miss you everyday Dad!

Thinking of Gordon at this time, wishing comfort to family and friends. I know Gordon through the East Bonner County Library where he served the community as Circulation Supervisor. Through music that he loved to play with his beautiful wife Joan at City Beach, and the local Panida Theater.  When I retired from EBCL I was instructed to hand Gordon details of my position as Processor of new materials, and how I searched for a patron's lost items. He looked at my paperwork for a few minutes and said, "Well, I'm not doing that...or that...and I'm certainly NOT doing that!"...I left his office knowing the library was in good hands. Thank You, Gordon, for humor, smiling face, direction. Watching candidate Obama news items during work hours (really?)
Staffers could watch you through the office window. Busted my friend. Sending love, JT

OBITUARY

John Gordon Anderson

August 28, 1952 – February 24, 2025

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