Just saw the notice on email about Jack and had to follow the link. My wife Tiffany has been commenting lately on friends lost from her HS class, though I have not weighed in recently on our class. Sadly, when I do, I find my friend Jack had passed, not even knowing he had been ill.
Jack was a very unique fellow. I can say I knew him well, as we were good friends for several years. I first got to know Jack when he had a Toyota truck. We both liked working on vehicles, probably.early evidence we were both to ultimately study engineering. Jack was funny, creative, determined and genuine. He was not likely to take time to ponder life's mysteries with you, but if you needed to find a solution to a problem, Jack would noodle through it with you and likely lead you to the answer. Most people would be well served to have these assets alone. Jack went furhter. Although he was not a tough guy, outwardly, he had a variety of friends, some of whom were mild mannered and some who thought they were real hard noses. Jack could abide them all and come out shining, with each type of person respecting him for his unique personality, but Jack never rose above them or sunk to their level. Possibly most unusually, to some at least, Jack had a terrific sense of humor. He laughed easily and had a dry wit I so appreciated and admired myself. While I was developing my sense of outward humor, Jack had his more immediately at hand. He had quipish names for things that would make you flat bust a gut, but you had to listen carefully as they rolled casually with his demeanor, never forced or contrived. Really one of the best things I remember Jack for to this day is how funny he was, every day, as he looked at his world and managed around the problems of life. Jack was a mechanical scrapper. His old Toyota truck was initial evidence. Later he bought a battered old 68 GTO and it became serious. He had little money but found parts and cobbled that Poncho together in ways only a young wizard could know. Although never needed his hot rod to be perfect, he found a way to make it look cool and run hard. Earl Schieb helped one day when Jack decided to go for one of Earl's $99 paint job specials. Not perfect, in fact Jack called it the "Quick and Dirty Special", but it was RED, and that's what counted, (then later kind of pinkish red when the sun faded it prematurely) - but it never bothered Jack!
Thank you Jack for helping me understand things frequently don't have to be perfect to work out just fine, in people and cars, and for giving me my love for Pontiacs. We had too much fun together in the hot rod I later bought, a black 455 '74 Grand Am, (thanks also for many tanks of late night discount gas from Wachels Exxon where he worked!).
Never an A lister at WHS, or anyone who even remotely wanted to be, Jack Andrews was his own man before most of us knew what that meant. He was popular with a wide variety of friends, and had more on the ball than most. Grade A in my book all the way! With his reliable smile, experiencial knowledge, quick wit and positive outlook, you were lucky and better for it if you took the time to know him.
Colleen Reed
What a beautiful soul! I am praying for Jack's family, his dear friends and all those who love and miss him. 58 is too young and cancer sucks!
We were so blessed to have such good hearted and loving classmates as Jack. I wish I had known him better.
Bart Volz
Just saw the notice on email about Jack and had to follow the link. My wife Tiffany has been commenting lately on friends lost from her HS class, though I have not weighed in recently on our class. Sadly, when I do, I find my friend Jack had passed, not even knowing he had been ill.
Jack was a very unique fellow. I can say I knew him well, as we were good friends for several years. I first got to know Jack when he had a Toyota truck. We both liked working on vehicles, probably.early evidence we were both to ultimately study engineering. Jack was funny, creative, determined and genuine. He was not likely to take time to ponder life's mysteries with you, but if you needed to find a solution to a problem, Jack would noodle through it with you and likely lead you to the answer. Most people would be well served to have these assets alone. Jack went furhter. Although he was not a tough guy, outwardly, he had a variety of friends, some of whom were mild mannered and some who thought they were real hard noses. Jack could abide them all and come out shining, with each type of person respecting him for his unique personality, but Jack never rose above them or sunk to their level. Possibly most unusually, to some at least, Jack had a terrific sense of humor. He laughed easily and had a dry wit I so appreciated and admired myself. While I was developing my sense of outward humor, Jack had his more immediately at hand. He had quipish names for things that would make you flat bust a gut, but you had to listen carefully as they rolled casually with his demeanor, never forced or contrived. Really one of the best things I remember Jack for to this day is how funny he was, every day, as he looked at his world and managed around the problems of life. Jack was a mechanical scrapper. His old Toyota truck was initial evidence. Later he bought a battered old 68 GTO and it became serious. He had little money but found parts and cobbled that Poncho together in ways only a young wizard could know. Although never needed his hot rod to be perfect, he found a way to make it look cool and run hard. Earl Schieb helped one day when Jack decided to go for one of Earl's $99 paint job specials. Not perfect, in fact Jack called it the "Quick and Dirty Special", but it was RED, and that's what counted, (then later kind of pinkish red when the sun faded it prematurely) - but it never bothered Jack!
Thank you Jack for helping me understand things frequently don't have to be perfect to work out just fine, in people and cars, and for giving me my love for Pontiacs. We had too much fun together in the hot rod I later bought, a black 455 '74 Grand Am, (thanks also for many tanks of late night discount gas from Wachels Exxon where he worked!).
Never an A lister at WHS, or anyone who even remotely wanted to be, Jack Andrews was his own man before most of us knew what that meant. He was popular with a wide variety of friends, and had more on the ball than most. Grade A in my book all the way! With his reliable smile, experiencial knowledge, quick wit and positive outlook, you were lucky and better for it if you took the time to know him.
Thanks Jack! You will be missed.
Bart Volz