John David Jung Guen Anderson, 47

John David Jung Guen Anderson, 47, passed away peacefully on August 11, 2024, at Hope Residence Lutheran Home in Belle Plaine, after an extended battle with liver disease and many lifelong challenges related to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

John David was born in Seoul, South Korea on July 9, 1977. In July of 1981, he was placed for adoption in the home of David and Kathleen Anderson of Webster, Minnesota. They remained his forever family. 

Throughout his life, John David endured the effects of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, characterized by challenges with his nervous system, physicality, and cognition.  Despite these trials, he led a rich and full life. 

A 1996 graduate of New Prague High School, John David had an adventurous spirit.  He was active in 4-H, exhibiting his pet goats and helping a neighbor with his Scotch Highland cattle.  He spent time with his family, traveled throughout the continental United States, and made several trips to Disneyworld, Disneyland, Colorado, and Hawaii.  He attended Camp Friendship and Korean Culture Camp.  After graduation, John David moved to a group home in Shakopee. There, he developed several friendships and continued to work in vocational settings.  Recently, he relocated to Hope Residence Lutheran Home in Belle Plaine.

John David was an avid collector.  He acquired stacks of papers and paraphernalia throughout his life, amassing hundreds of Pokemon cards, country music magazines, brochures from fairs and events, Harley Davidson sweatshirts and bandanas and Elvis memorabilia.  He took comfort in his Word Find books and his Sudoku.  He enjoyed Korean food, especially bulgogi and kimchi.  He dyed his hair purple in honor of the Minnesota Vikings and wore purple clothing.

John David enjoyed writing and keeping lists.  He carried notebooks citing the birthdays of everyone in his family and recorded his goals.  One of his goals was to marry and raise two children named Elvis and Lisa Marie. 

John David was a capitalist.  On his birthday and at Christmas, family members would gather piles of one-dollar bills.  A gift of ten one-dollar bills was more meaningful to him than one $100 bill.  Occasionally profane, he would declare himself “rich” and reminded his family that he was earning a paycheck through his vocational work.  He was especially fond of his work assembling pie boxes and preparing bread at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival.

John David had several fascinations.  He worshipped Elvis, loved the Minnesota Vikings, and frequently attended Vikings training camps.  Over the years, he developed friendships with several Vikings cheerleaders.  John David was inspired to join and compete on an adaptive basketball team and participated for several years in the Special Olympics.  Most recently, he sang in a community choir, performing a solo at the annual Christmas concert.   

One of his fondest memories was the trip he took with his mother to Graceland to explore the home of his idol, Elvis.  In 2022, he vacationed in Nashville and attended the Grand Ole Opry, singing throughout the entire show.

John David often expressed openly his love for his family.  He would tell his siblings and nieces and nephews how much he missed them and loved them.  When he interacted with his family, he would use phrases that would become part of the Anderson daily parlance, referred to as “John David-isms.”

He was proud of his place in his family and proud to be an “Anderson.”

Throughout his life, John David was supported and uplifted by the community around him.  His teachers, caregivers, medical professionals, social workers, advocates, and friends saw beyond his special needs to the gentle, loving, if sometimes irreverent, person he was, helping him to live a joyful and purposeful life.  The family wishes to thank the staff of the group homes who cared for John David throughout the years and to extend heartfelt appreciation to the care staff at Hope Residence Lutheran Home. A “thank you” will never be enough to describe the gratitude that is in our hearts. 

John David, one who worshipped Elvis, has “left the building,” but his life is a reminder of the inherent value in each of us. Perhaps this is his legacy.

John David is survived by his parents, Kathleen and David Anderson, his siblings and their spouses, nieces and nephews and many extended family and friends.  He was preceded in death by his nephew, Deshawn Corbin.  In honor of John David, the family encourages mourners to visit a care facility and spend time with residents who rarely receive visitors.  Memories of John David Anderson can be shared at https://www.forevermissed.com/johndavid-jungguen-anderson.