Mayor's Final Ride: Love, Loss, and the Open Road

Todd Anderson, the 61-year-old mayor of Sheldahl, Iowa, died on Saturday, August 22, 2026, in a single-vehicle motorcycle crash on Iowa Highway 141 near Polk City. He was riding his 2019 Harley-Davidson, known as his "Blue Bagger," with his wife, Kathy, also on a motorcycle, when the accident occurred around 6:30 p.m. Kathy Anderson described the day as perfect for riding, with the couple enjoying backroads.

Anderson's life was marked by a deep love for his wife, Kathy, whom he first met in 1983. After separate marriages and families, they reconnected in 2011 and married in 2014. Their shared passion for motorcycles became a significant part of their lives, leading them on rides across states and to notable destinations like the Tail of the Dragon. They recently purchased two new Harley-Davidson motorcycles, with Sturgis being a planned future trip.

In November 2024, Anderson was diagnosed with Stage 4 Mantle Cell Lymphoma. The cancer went into remission by the fall of 2025 after undergoing chemotherapy. This health battle prompted him to "focus on what was really important," leading him to spend more time with his grandchildren and work on his passion project, a 1995 Ford Mustang at his tire shop.

Visitation services are scheduled for Friday, August 28, at Iles Westover Chapel in Des Moines. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 29. Kathy Anderson plans to continue riding in her husband's honor and is organizing a memorial ride.