Ivan J. Anker

by | May 19, 2022 | Obituaries

Virginia Beach—On Sunday, May 15, 2022 Ivan Jay Anker, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, passed away peacefully at home with his wife, Vera, by his side.

Ivan was born in Newport News, Virginia to Sam and Goldye Anker (Rasken), who preceded him in death. He graduated from Newport News High School and attended many class reunions thereafter.

Ivan started his working career in Hampton, Virginia at Giant Open Air Market. He held many positions there such as stock clerk, frozen food manager, grocery manager, and receiving clerk. After Farm Fresh bought the company, he continued his work as receiving clerk until his retirement after 50 years of work. He also held jobs working security with the Virginia Beach Amphitheater and Event Staffing at many venues around the Tidewater area. He loved seeing and meeting the talented artists that came through the area, often guarding the dressing room areas backstage. The COVID pandemic shut down his second career after 15 years in March 2020.

Ivan grew up with a love of baseball. He lived through the heydays of Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris and loved his New York Yankees until the end. For many years he was proud to drive with his MKY MNTL license plates!! He attended many games of the minor league teams playing at Peninsula’s War Memorial Stadium, from the Grays to the Astros and every team in between. He also followed the minor league hockey teams in Hampton and in Norfolk.

Ivan also retained his love of 1950’s and 1960’s rock and roll music throughout his life. He was able to see concerts of many of his music idols and of course he even met some of them at his second job!!

Ivan leaves behind his loving wife, Vera (Dlaikan) and his (baby) brother Jeffrey, and his wife Bobbie (Marchant) of Charlottesville, Virginia. He also leaves behind many loving cousins, their children and grandchildren. Ivan loved his family and was always happy to go to celebrations and catch up on what everyone was doing. After his marriage to Vera in his later years, he was thrilled to welcome in a whole new set of family members that he could share his love with.

A memorial service was held graveside at the Hebrew Cemetery in Hampton, Virginia on Kecoughtan Road with burial afterwards.

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