Mineral Point - Peter Melvin Anderson, aged 79, of Mineral Point, passed away at home early on Saturday morning, December 2, 2023.

Peter was born in Sturgeon Bay, Door County, where his Norwegian-American family had deep roots in shipbuilding and farming. Door County remained his heart's home throughout his life. As a youth, his family resided in Janesville, Beloit, and later Rockford. He attended Augustana College where he received a degree in philosophy, and continued his studies at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN, earning a Masters in Divinity. An internship in hospital chaplaincy at Lutheran General Hospital, in the Chicago suburbs, included a brief period of mentorship under Elisabeth Kubler-Ross.

Peter's enthusiasm and advancing skills in woodworking led him to pursue a full time career as a carpenter and custom-cabinet maker in Chicago. Working alongside Chicago architects and designers, P.M. Anderson Construction Company took on projects throughout the city and suburbs, earning him recognition in architectural magazines and the Chicago Tribune.

His passions for reading, poetry, politics, and philosophy nourished a lifetime of intellectual debate and never-ending curiosity. He was a lover of all living things and enjoyed observing the natural world.

The family relocated to Mineral Point from Chicago in 2014, embracing the beauty of the Driftless region.

Throughout his life Peter enjoyed the companionship of many pet cats, who loved him to the end. He is survived by his wife, Cynthia Porter; daughter Catherine Struthers Anderson of Wausau; a brother Eric (Quilcene, Washington) and sisters Barbara Moehn (Tulsa); and Mari Anderson (Sturgeon Bay).

A memorial gathering will be held on Friday, December 15, at 2:00 PM at Cafe 43.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the National Alliance on Mental Illness ( www.nami.org ); Saving Grace Cat Rescue (a Mineral Point based volunteer-run non-profit); or to the Pointer Pantry.