Obituary: Dwight Edward Andersen

Dwight Edward Andersen, born Feb. 12, 1933, Farnamville, Iowa, passed away July 13, 2010, in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Dwight Andersen, 77, passed away after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. We will miss our loving husband and devoted father. Dwight was born to Eddie and Laverna Andersen where he worked on the family farm. Dwight met Maudie La Rue in high school. After his discharge from the U.S. Army, which included a tour of duty in Korea, he married his high school sweetheart.

Dwight and his family moved, seeking opportunity in Southern California. Dwight started a career in automotive repair and soon blossomed as a top notch technician. Dwight went into business for himself and in no time owned two repair shops that employed many of his family pursuing their own dreams.

Wanting to spend more time with his young family, which now included son Bruce and a daughter Wendy, Dwight worked for Los Angeles County Fire Deptartment in the motor pool. He quickly was recognized as a man who could fix anything from the chief's own car to the big hook and ladder vehicles.

In the early '70s Dwight, starting to miss the pace of life he often talked about in Iowa, moved his family to Carson City. There he started two more successful businesses, one bearing his name as Dwight's Automotive. There he would help all who came through the door as if they were best friends, and indeed made many.

Dwight is survived by his wife of 54 years, son Bruce, daughter Wendy, grandchildren, Janet, Carolyn, Nicholas, Aubrey, Tanner and seven great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 24, 2010, at Gates Kingsley & Gates Praiswater Mortuary Chapel, 6909 Canoga Ave. Canoga Park, Calif.