Longtime Alamosa resident Joel Otto Anderson, 85, passed away March 22, 2018 at the St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood, Colorado.

Joel’s life began on October 29, 1932 in La Jara, Colorado. He was the proud son of Matts Joel Anderson and Mary Amelia Scheibe. Joel served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict and was honorably discharged in 1955. After returning home, Joel married Dora Gay Cunningham on March 11, 1956 in Santa Fe, New Mexico and their marriage was sealed for all time and eternity in the Mesa Arizona Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Nov 22, 1968. During the years, Joel held many different positions and callings within the church.

He worked for the Colorado State Department of Transportation in Highway Maintenance and retired after 32 years. Joel also volunteered for the Boy Scouts of America for 25 years. His family always came first, and he loved and cherished the times spent with them. In his spare time, Joel enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping in the mountains. He also enjoyed watching a good western movie on TV, playing solitaire, or working with tools and his hands and tinkering with cars.

He is survived by his wife Dora Gay Anderson of Alamosa; their children: Roberta Lee (Richard) Bailey, Matt Joel (Rhonda) Anderson, Vaughn Ray Anderson, Melissa Gay (Bryan) Phillips, Chris Ann (Kenneth) Sowell, Amber Dawn Anderson and Melinda Marie (Michael) Rose; his sister Frieda Neilson; 17 Grandchildren: Kyle Musselman and Jenna Bailey, Shelby, Jessica, Andrew, and Christian Anderson, Bradley and Nathan Phillips, Alexandria, Hunter, and Zachary Sowell, Ethan, Sydney, Brooklyn, Roxana, and Sylvia Rose; as well as numerous extended family and a host of friends.

Joel is preceded in death by his father Matts Joel Anderson, his mother Mary Amelia Scheibe, his daughters Brenda Joelene Anderson and DeVon Anderson, his grandson Tyler Augustus Rose, his son-in-law Roy “Jeff” Musselman and his brother-in-law Don Nielson.

A Visitation will be held in the Relief Society Room of the Alamosa Fourth Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 927 Weber Avenue in Alamosa from 11:45am-12:45 pm Tuesday, March 27, followed by a Funeral Service at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow services in the Sanford Cemetery.

Rogers Family Mortuary of Alamosa is in care of the arrangements. To leave online condolences, tributes and remarks for Joel’s family, please visit www.RogersFunerals.com