George Karl Anderson

George Karl Anderson 93 of Edison, NJ passed away on Monday May 13, 2024 at the
Center for Hope Hospice in Scotch Plains. He was born in Michalovce, Slovakia as
Jorge Karol Androsov. At the age of 17, George fled from Communist rule in the former
Czechoslovakia. He spent three years in a refugee camp in Salzburg, Austria awaiting
a visa to come to the United States. He arrived in America through Ellis Island, where
officials anglicized his name to George Karl Anderson. George enlisted in the US Army
soon after his arrival. He was assigned to an Army base in Illesheim, in the former West
Germany. He was a cook there and drove a tank. George would later remark that
those were the happiest days of his life. It was there that he met his future wife
Annemarie Strunz, herself recovering from war-torn Germany following Nazi rule.
Following his enlistment, George settled in Linden, NJ where his brother Mike and
young family had settled among the large Slovak community. Annemarie soon followed
him, with very little. They were married in the presence of a few of his Army buddies and
his brother. The young couple moved to a small one-bedroom apartment in Lockwood
Gardens, Roselle. There they would have their two children Robert and Michele.
George found work at the Krim-Ko Bottling Co. in Clark, NJ. He was quite mechanically
inclined and his ability was noticed by another co-worker John Lessa. They soon
formed a partnership and in 1974 started a company called Less Handling Systems Inc.
in Fanwood, NJ. The company designed, manufactured, and installed material
handling systems for packages.  This came about through developing efficient conveyor
belt systems for various industries and services. By 1986, George had started
Equipment Erectors, Inc in Somerset, NJ, where the company continues today. George
and Annemarie were longtime members of the former Our Savior Lutheran Church in
Edison. He was also the oldest living member of the Deutscher Club in Clark, Nj, where
he enjoyed many happy memories. George enjoyed skiing, and continued to ski well
into his eighties. He and his wife were very proud and patriotic Americans. They loved
their new homeland very much. George was preceded in death by his beloved wife
Annemarie in October of 2023. He is survived by his daughter Michele C. Anderson,
son Robert Anderson (wife Sara) and three grandchildren Stefanie, Sabrina and Scott.
George’s visitation will be on Saturday May 18, 2024 from 10:00-11:00AM at Gray
Funeral Home, 318 E. Broad St., Westfield. Graveside services will follow at 11:15AM at
Fairview Cemetery, Westfield, NJ Please go to: www,grayfuneralhomes.com to offer
condolences.