Ian Christian Anderson

Ian Christian Anderson was born in Massachusetts to Paul D Anderson, and Louise Barnatt - Anderson (deceased 2007) on March 13, 1985. He died in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 30th, 2024, at the age of 39. 

As a young boy Ian loved to play outdoors. He was a very creative child and would spend hours playing with his younger brother, Alex. They would build elaborate tree houses and construct temporary structures out of mud and clay. He had great eye for art, structural design, and painting, He loved to paint, and was an excellent landscape painter, mountain scenes were his favorite. He was a great piano player; he would spend hours hammering away on the piano trying to perfect Mozart and Bach. Ian was an avid reader and would stay up late into the night, with a flashlight under his blanket, eating raisins, while reading all the Hardy Boys and Tom Swift books ever written.

In the wake of 9/11, he chose to join the Army and serve his country, he and his brother, Alex, joined together, eventually becoming paratroopers in the 82nd Airborne. Ian spent 14 years in the Army achieving the rank of Sergeant First Class, during his time in the Army he completed 6 tours overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan. While overseas on his first tour of duty he saved his platoon from death and was wounded in the process, he was awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star with Valor and spent the rest of his days with inoperable shrapnel in his back. He was a true patriot, and a hero to many that served with him. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 2018.

Ian was an adventurer, he knew how to fly a plane, he loved fencing, he loved being in the ocean and was passionate about surfing and scuba diving – one of his dreams was to live in Thailand, become a dive master and own his own dive shop. He was an adrenaline junky and loved to drive fast cars, jump out of airplanes, and to race down a mountain snowboarding. He was his happiest when he was exploring a new country, or hiking a mountain, or dancing all night to EDM, he was an avid explorer. He had a huge heart, and a big, loud voice. He could light up any room with his smile and gregarious nature, he was the life of any party. He thoroughly loved smoking cigars, gambling, and EDM/house music. 

He was a brother, a son, and a friend to many. He was our Ian. His loss is felt dearly by us, and he will forever live in our hearts as the happy boy we knew and loved. 

Ian is survived by his brother, Alex, his sister, Maria, his dad, Paul, and stepmom, Nancy.

His funeral will be held at St. Michael’s Catholic church in Whitelaw Wisconsin on May 9th, 2024, at 11am, visitation from 10:30-11am, a reception will follow. Ian’s remains will be interned at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Clarks Mills WI, next to his mom, Louise.