Obituary of Andrew Hansen Andersen

ANDERSEN: The family of Andrew (Andy) Andersen is saddened to announce his peaceful passing at the age of 89 years on March 6, 2013 at the Assiniboine Centre, Brandon. Andy was born on September 24, 1923 on the family farm at Moline, Manitoba. He was the second youngest of seven children so there was never a dull moment in his childhood. He attended school at a small one-room schoolhouse across the lake at their farm. At the age of 16, Andy and his brother Hans took over the farm due to their father's poor health. Even at this young age the boys drove 6-horse teams, stooked grain and generally just continued on with all the farm duties. When Hans joined the army and went to war, Andy took over the farm on his own. His parents had continued to live on the farm and it was at this time when Andy was on his own that his father began calling him "Boss." Andy and Roya were married on October 10, 1951 and from this day on they farmed together and raised a family. A son, Len, was born two years later and then four years after a daughter, Kathy, joined the family. One of Andy's goals was to have a herd of a hundred head of cattle and he was able to accomplish this feat. On a joint haying venture, Andy and his brother-in-law, Floyd, found they enjoyed working together and they continued this partnership until retirement. Andy loved farm life, both working the land and working with the livestock but in 1979, he had to have open heart surgery and was forced to sell his cattle. He continued on for a few more years but in 1981, it was decided that they would sell the farm and Andy went into retirement for the first time. Andy and Roya had thirty years together on the farm, but they now looked forward to a new adventure. This led them to #8 Grant Boulevard in Brandon where they were fortunate to find Barrie and Bettie Wood as their neighbours. Andy joined Barrie at his Power Vac business in 1983 and what a great time they had working together. In 1997, Andy retired for the second time when he and Roya moved to the four-plexes on Parkdale Drive. Little did he know that his third career would begin as the caretaker for three of the six four-plexes. There was never a problem he couldn't fix. He did anything from fixing a sink to being a taxi driver which was beyond his list of duties, but that wouldn't stop him from helping anyone. At the age of 87, in 2011, Andy finally retired for the last time. He continued in good health and enjoyed his daily coffee outings with Roya where he would share in conversation with the many people they had come to know. Despite two strokes, he continued on doing quite well until he entered the hospital on Thursday, February 28 and then on Wednesday, March 6, he peacefully left us. Lovingly remembered by surviving family: wife of 61 years, Roya; children: Len (Elanra) and Kathy (Dave); grandchildren: Michelle (Carl), Andrew (Pam) and Laura; great grandchildren, who were the light of his life: Brandon, Samantha, Danika, Avery, Sydney. He will also be missed by sisters-in-law Joyce and Elaine; brother-in-law Grant as well as many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by parents Andrew and Hansine; mother-in-law Florrie; brothers and sisters: Joan (Lachie) McInnes, Kathleen (Harold) Westwood, Olga (George) Nichols, John (Mary), Hans (Martha) and Albert; brothers-in-law Floyd and Keith; sisters-in-law Doreen and Edna. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, Unit 3-824-18th Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 5B7.