Though he is a frequent presence at each of the club’s regular meetings, Herb Anderson was surprised when he became part of the festivities during last month’s meeting of the Dowagiac Lions Club.

His fellow Lions threw a surprise birthday party for Anderson, as the longtime Dowagiac Lion and area resident turned 99 years old on June 18. The members presented the veteran with a giant birthday cake, complete with a Lions International logo and blue and gold frosting trim.

Despite the pomp and circumstance surrounding the celebration, when asked about turning 99, Anderson said he doesn’t really feel any different.

“It’s nothing special,” he said. “I just got a year older.”

His list of achievements during his near century long life, though, is certainly nothing ordinary.

Born in Gladstone, Michigan, Anderson was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1941, serving overseas in Africa, Italy, France and Germany during WWII. After the end of his service in the armed forces, Anderson returned to his old job with the U.S. Social Security office, moving to Dowagiac after being reassigned to the newly opened Benton Harbor office.

Over the years, Anderson has served his community in a number of different roles. In the early 70s, he was a member of the Dowagiac City Council, before stepping down from his position after moving outside the city limits to Sister Lakes area, where he continues to reside today, he said.

He has been a member of the Dowagiac Lions club since 1956, joining after being asked to become a member by a friend, he said. Anderson served a term as president of the local service organization in 1963, he said. He also received an award from the club in 2012, recognizing his then 55 years of membership with the organization.

He remains an active member of the club today, and even helped with the club’s annual White Cane fundraiser for years before finally stepping back two years ago, he said.

In addition to his service with the Lions club, Anderson continues to make the drive from his home on Cable Lake to Caruso’s downtown, where he meets a group of fellow residents for coffee.

“My main occupation these days is to come here every morning and have coffee with the boys,” he said.