Todd Anderson was not the kind of mayor who spent his days hiding behind a heavy wooden desk in city hall. Folks in Sheldahl knew him simply as “Big Todd,” a man with a booming laugh, a warm smile, and a real love for two-wheeled machines. On Saturday evening, August 22, 2026, the 61-year-old mayor died in a single-vehicle motorcycle crash along Highway 141 near Polk City.
The crash happened around 6:30 p.m. in the 10,000 block of Iowa Highway 141. Deputy sheriffs from Polk County responded to the scene, but Anderson could not be saved. News of his death hit the small farming community hard, leaving the town of 287 residents trying to make sense of losing a leader who lived life with the throttle wide open.
Anderson had beaten mantle cell lymphoma years earlier, an ordeal that completely shifted how he looked at every waking day. After going into remission, he told friends he wanted to focus strictly on what mattered most: family, good neighbors, and enjoying every single mile. He picked up hobbies like collecting Hot Wheels cars, working on a 1985 Fox Body Mustang GT in his garage, and riding his motorcycle with his wife, Kathy.
In a town as small as Sheldahl, everybody knows everybody, and Anderson made sure every neighbor felt seen. He rarely got angry about local politics or town squabbles, often reminding folks that life was far too short to stay mad about small things. City Clerk Rachel Wicks described him as a bubbly, kind leader who brought genuine joy to the town square whenever he stepped outside.
Nothing showed his playful nature quite like the local Easter celebration. Every spring, Anderson pulled on a full Easter Bunny costume, hopped on his motorcycle, and rode straight into the middle of the town egg hunt. Kids squealed with excitement as the giant white rabbit pulled up on a roaring bike, turning a simple holiday event into a tradition local families looked forward to all year long.
Anderson was elected mayor back in 2025, taking on the job out of pure love for his home. He did not care much for fancy political speeches or long-winded meetings. Instead, he preferred walking down the street, checking in on local projects, and talking with folks on their front porches about whatever needed fixing around town.
Following the crash, Mayor Pro Tem Kyle Greenwood stepped up to serve as acting mayor while the town figures out how to fill the empty seat. Funeral services were set for Iles Westover Chapel in Des Moines, giving friends and family a chance to gather and share stories. For the people of Sheldahl, the roads will feel a lot quieter without Big Todd riding through town.
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