ST. GEORGE — On November 22, 2021, after a courageous battle with cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, William “Bill” August Anderson Jr., 67, passed away at home with his loving wife Kristine and son James by his side.

Bill was born on January 6, 1954, in Massapequa, New York, the son of William Anderson, Sr., and Joan Willet Anderson. He graduated from the Massapequa public schools and then attended the New York Institute of Technology where he studied architecture and met the love of his life, Kristine B. Rottkamp. They were married in 1979. They lived on Long Island, New York for a short time when they decided to move to Maine in 1981.

In his early years, Bill spent every summer at the family vacation home in Tenants Harbor. Bill and his family participated in numerous Civil War Skirmishes and reenactments, and he worked in his father’s architecture firm as a teenager and young adult.

Bill was also a skilled outdoorsman and a gifted athlete, excelling at track, golf and basketball and other sports. He was highly active in the Boy Scouts and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in 1970. A trumpet player, like his father, Bill was also Troop 660’s esteemed bugler, having created its iconic “bugle charge” as well as mastering the full range of other calls, including the dreaded “Reveille” which always brought groans from the sleeping scouts and an impish grin to Bill’s face.

After their move to Maine, Bill worked in Camden with some of the best architects in the region. Throughout the years he also found time to help his parents and grandmother with building and renovating their homes and
other projects, as well as caring for his mother in her later years.

Bill was proudest of the life and family that he and Kristine had created. It was a true love story. Bill’s courtship of Kristine never ended, often surprising her with a romantic gesture, such as leaving a single red rose and a love note outside her office door. Bill supported all of Kristine’s passions and goals, and they stood by each other through thick and thin. They bought an old farmhouse in St. George, which they faithfully renovated, expanded, and upgraded over the next 28 years.

Bill and Kristine have two sons: Brian and James. Bill loved being a dad and was actively involved in everything they did, from helping with their academics, to being involved with the Boy Scouts, to coaching community youth baseball. Bill never wanted to miss any of their school games or events. After Brian and Juliene married and brought their son Isaac into the world, Bill was ecstatic to be a grandfather and would spend hours with him playing on the floor.

Bill also had a great love of animals and the outdoors. He had many dogs throughout his life and the present two, Winston and Roscoe, will miss him greatly. Birds intrigued him and he began to study them while just a young boy. Bill could not only recognize a bird by its song, but he was also able to whistle back to it. He also loved gardening and built many raised garden beds at their home for growing and harvesting their own vegetables.

Bill is predeceased by his father, William Anderson, Sr.; his mother, Joan Anderson; his youngest brother, Wesley Anderson; and sister-in-law Robin Anderson.

Bill is survived by his wife, Kristine; son Brian Anderson and his wife Juliene and son Isaac of College Station, Texas; son James Anderson of Rockport; sister, Donna Anderson of Arizona; brother, Douglas Anderson of Thomaston; brothers-in-law, Joseph Rottkamp, Thomas Costello, and Edward Smith; sisters-in-law Carol Rottkamp, Rosalie Costello and Mary Smith; several nieces and nephews; Bill’s best friend since childhood, Jack Fischer; and Bill’s beloved dogs, Winston and Roscoe.

Funeral Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter and Hutchins Funeral Home in Rockland.

A private memorial will be held in the Summer for family and friends. Condolences and memories may be shared at bchfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pope Memorial Humane Society of Knox County, P.O. Box 1294, Rockland, ME 04841.