Joe H. Anders, 81, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Jan. 1, 2018, at the Lutheran Home.

He was born March 12, 1936, in Caruthersville, Missouri, to Joe and Fern Bennett Anders.

He and Shannon Burnette were married June 2, 1963, at Brownsville, Tennessee.

He received Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in counseling from Memphis (Tennessee) State.

He worked at the Employment Office and Vocational Rehabilitation for the state of Missouri and was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church. He also volunteered and worked at Saint Francis Medical Center after retirement.

He joined the Kiwanis Club in Caruthersville in 1963. Joe then transferred his membership to the Cape Girardeau Kiwanis Club and held many offices including president and lieutenant governor.

He was well known for making delicious divinity candy every Christmas and for playing Santa Claus on many a Christmas Eve. He enjoyed woodworking and displayed many examples of his work at The Saxony Village Craft Show, where he lived with his wife until he became ill.

Joe served in the Army at both Fort Leonard Wood and Fort Hollenberg in Baltimore, Maryland, before finally serving in military intelligence at the Pentagon.

Survivors include his wife, Shannon Anders of Cape Girardeau; two sons, Michael (Betsy) Anders and Matt (Janet) Anders, both of Cape Girardeau; five grandchildren, Josh Anders of Jefferson City, Ryan Aufdenberg of Alabama and Cody Aufdenberg, S.J. Anders and Abigail Anders, all of Cape Girardeau.

Friends may call from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Funeral service with military honors will be held at 6 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Officiating will be the Rev. David Conley.

Memorial contributions may be given to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Kiwanis International.

The family would like to thank Saint Francis Hospice and the staff of the Lutheran Home for their loving care.

Online condolences may be made at fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.