John Wilber Andrews, 87, of Lincoln passed away on October 4th, 2021. Born June 27, 1934, to Wilber Andrews and Nellie Frank in Beatrice, NE. John worked for Farm Bureau Insurance and First Mid-America before retiring after over 20 years as a System’s Analyst for the Department of Corrections for the State of Nebraska. He was also a funeral attendant for Roper and Sons. He was baptized in 1957 at the Blue Springs United Methodist Church and was later a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church. John also served in the United States Army from 1957 until 1959 and was a member of American Legion Post #3. John’s main hobby was Golf. He would go any chance he could get and golfed for 21 years after his retirement. He quit at age 81 due to a bad back. He would golf 4-5 times a week. He would be at Wilderness Ridge parked and ready to play before the sun came up drinking his “Senior coffee with 2 creams” in the parking lot.
He also enjoyed 10 years in North Bend at his little cabin on a pond. He loved time spent there with his family. There he fished, grilled and mainly enjoyed watching his grandkids…He would raise the flag with Shane the minute upon arrival and get a kick out of Natalie that she would not come out of the water!
He loved his time spent with all of the grandkids. He went to Hawaii with Karen, Jamie, Casey and Andrew. He loved that trip and still would laugh that Casey ordered a round of drinks (on his parents tab) for a Pro Football team that was there. He loved watching sports and westerns with his son, John and grandson Aidan. If they were not together, he would call John after every big play and discuss why it was so great, or what the coaches could have done differently!
Papa was always the first one at any of the grandkid’s sports. Parked up front and ready to cheer and coach! Each grandchild brought him so many joys, here are a few of his highlights:
Watching Casey play football at Wesleyan
Watching Andrew Play in the Shrine Bowl
Watching Shane be on stage in high school with her love of music and theatre
Watching and giving tips to Nat on the game of Tennis
Watching Aidan play football
John loved attending any sporting event or watching sports on TV. He had a huge love for the “Huskers”. John enjoyed several trips to the “Boats” with his daughter Karen. He loved Blackjack but in his later years switched to the slot machines where he was sure he would win a jackpot! That never happened, possibly because his high stake bet was a quarter! He also found great delight in delivering gift baskets for his daughter Diane’s business.
John had a love of life and quite a fun spirit! Always finding joy in the most simple things. He truly had a gift. He loved his days at home just being peaceful with his wife. He was a simple man, and did not require much entertainment. He was a gracious man and up to his last days, never neglected to thank his wife for taking such good care of him.
John will be missed so much and there will always be a hole in our hearts, but one thing is for certain….He received all the love he always gave! We are sure he is wrapped in the Lord’s arms. He was a Christian man, and loved Jesus Christ as his savior. May he rest in peace until we meet again.
Your family
Xoxo
Family members include his wife Virgie of Lincoln, daughters Karen (Jamie) Sasek of Lincoln and Diane (Mike) Cooper of Lincoln, son John Andrews of Lincoln; brothers Ronald (Janet) Andrews of Hampton, VA and Gary Beard of Greeley, CO; sister Marla (Gary) Wilcox of Beatrice; grandchildren Casey (Molly Galibraith) and Andrew Sasek, Aidan Andrews, Shane (Billy) Olson and Natalie (Cam) Lundgren; great grandchildren to come; and numerous nieces and nephews. John is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Kenneth, James and Larry, his sisters Barbara and Norma, and daughter-in-law Miriam.
Funeral services will be held 1:00pm Thursday, October 7th, at Roper and Sons Midtown Chapel, 4300 O Street.
Visitation will be held one hour prior.
Memorial contributions may be directed Saint Paul United Methodist Church or coats to the City Mission.