Merle "Ben" Anderson Jr., 67, of Zearing, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames, Iowa. A memorial visitation will be held on Saturday, July 22, 2023, from 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. at Fredregill Funeral Home in Zearing, Iowa. Immediately following visitation his memorial service will begin at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Tom Poppe officiating. Burial will follow in the Lincoln Township Cemetery in Zearing, Iowa. Ben was born on September 11, 1955, in Burwell, Nebraska to Merle and Bertha (Van Houten) Anderson Sr. He lived in Nebraska until he was 14 and the family relocated to Iowa. Ben graduated from NESCO High School with the class of 1973. Following school, he began working as an over the road trucker. On July 11, 1985, Ben married Janice Woods in McCallsburg, Iowa. In 1991 he began working for Construct as a heavy equipment operator and remained with them until his retirement in 2021. Ben loved spending time with his family, fishing, playing his guitar, and the Nebraska Corn Huskers. Those left to cherish his loving memory are his wife Janice Anderson of Zearing, IA; children Tom (Sarah) Shadle of Ely, IA and Bobbi Madison of Henderson, NV; grandchildren TJ and Corey Shadle, and Skyler and Cloe Madison; siblings Lisa Nelson of Story City, IA and Clifford Anderson of Ames, IA; sister-in-law Shelly Anderson; and many nieces and nephews. Ben was preceded in death by his parents and brother Tim Anderson. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family. Fredregill Funeral & Cremation Care in Zearing has been entrusted with the care of Ben and his family.