Batavia businessman, former supervisor dies

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Whether patrons came into Anderson's Hardware for a few bolts, a handyman, or a conversation, Cliff Anderson could help them out.

The lifelong Batavia resident, who served as township supervisor for more than 20 years, died Tuesday at the age of 94.

He was known for his kindness and commitment to the community, as well as always having a cup of coffee or a corncob pipe in his hand.

"His pipe was kind of his signature," said son, Jim Anderson, the current township supervisor.

So much, in fact, that while supporting one of his dad's campaigns in the 1960s, Jim built a 6-foot papier-mache pipe and hooked it to a ski rack on top of his car to campaign.

His dad loved it.

Anderson -- who owned the hardware store on South Batavia Avenue for more than 50 years -- was known for helping people install items they bought at the shop, helping fix things and not charging for a lot of it.

"I think he was your typical small-town businessman," said friend Bob Nelson. "Making a huge profit was not his first priority."

Mayor Jeff Schielke remembered "Cliffy," as many people knew him, as having a "overzealous streak of kindness."

"I swear he probably gave away more services than he ever sold," he said.

Anderson also served on the Kane County Board of Supervisors, was active in the city chamber of commerce, and held leadership positions at Bethany Lutheran Church.

For more than 50 years, he was part of a group of men who met at 9:30 each night to have coffee and talk about the day and what was going on in town. The group outlasted several of the establishments where they met.

Working at the hardware store, Anderson would often complain of a headache and say he had to go next door to Johnson's Drug Store to get something for it, Jim said. That usually meant getting a cup of coffee and chatting with the folks over there.

"Sometimes he'd have two or three headaches a day," Jim said.

Jim's brother, Dennis Anderson, the former Batavia police chief, said his father instilled a sense of public service in him, and the importance of family. The family is planning a memorial service for Oct. 27 but hasn't finalized the details yet.

Anderson died a week after his and wife, Helen's, 70th wedding anniversary, which friends and family celebrated with the couple earlier this month.

"I can't help but think somehow he willed himself to make it to that day," Dennis said. "They taught all of their kids the meaning of a good marriage. They showed us how life should be lived."