Harry Lubomir Andrews

Harry Lubomir Andrews died peacefully in his sleep the morning of Tuesday, September 20, 2011, at Eden Meadows, Oshkosh, WI, where he was loved and beautifully cared for by all the staff. He was born on April 29, 1924 in Brooklyn, NY, the first of nine children of Harry Andrews and Natalia Seniw. His parents emigrated from Ukraine in the early 1900s and settled in Brooklyn, where they had a tailor shop. His parents and siblings Lillian, Eileen, Alex and George, and loving wife of 57 years, Eleanor, preceded him in death. Sisters May and Marion and brothers John and Taras live on the East Coast. Sons Michael, Miami Beach, FL and Steven, Madison, WI, daughters Natalie (Margaret De La Fuente), Dixon, IL and Anne Gerou (Joe Dorava), Wisconsin Dells, survive.After graduating at age 17 from an accelerated high school program in NY, Harry was a precision instruments assembler at Sperry Gyroscope supporting the war effort. He then enlisted in the Navy and served in the Pacific theater during World War II. He took part in numerous amphibious invasions in the Pacific, including the Invasion of Leyte, Philippines, in 1944. For his war service he was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with 4 Battle Stars, Navy Occupation Service Medal and China Service Medal. His foreign awards included the Philippine Liberation Medal with 2 Battle Stars and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. At the end of the war he helped transfer Japanese soldiers back from China to Japan. His discharge from the Navy marked a new beginning. He enrolled in the Latin American Institute, NYC, to study Diplomacy and Spanish. After transferring, he graduated from the Latin American Institute, Chicago. While in Chicago he met the love of his life, Eleanor Joanne Royal. The story goes that Harry crashed a party and walked into the hot, stuffy kitchen where Ellie was making spaghetti. Over the steaming pot of pasta a great romance began. They were married on September 17, 1950 in a garden wedding at her parents home in Battle Creek, MI.Harry worked as a market research analyst for Clark Equipment in Battle Creek. He subsequently studied mortuary science at Wayne State University, Detroit. After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree he worked with his in-laws at the Royal Funeral Home, Battle Creek. A job offer with Marathon Electric brought the family to Wausau, WI in 1964. Harry was then recruited by Drott Manufacturing (later JI Case) to expand their burgeoning industry, retiring in 1985. He was an avid health and fitness nut, playing stickball on the streets of Brooklyn as a child, semi-pro baseball in Battle Creek and handball and competitive volleyball as a long time member of the YMCA in Wausau. He secretly jumped the fence at Thom Field to do his daily jog in the summer. Eventually he was given a key to Thom Field.Harry was a Mason for 59 years, the last 40 years in Forest Lodge #130, Wausau, a member of Scottish Rite Valley of Eau Claire and Zor Shrine. As a Shriner he was in the Wausauken Indian Unit, parading to help raise money for their childrens hospitals. He was a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Burns Post #388. He had a voracious appetite for politics, World War II, good food and music. The dinner table was where the family engaged in passionate discussions on a multitude of subjects over great food. Harry encouraged Ellie to make a variety of ethnic foods that he yearned for from his Brooklyn childhood. He would say her matzo ball soup, stuffed cabbage and kasha were as good as any deli in New York City.In spring of 2009 he flew to Washington, DC, through the Honor Flight program to visit the World War II Memorial. Harry was always ready to meet new people, help a stranger, go for a walk, tell a story, and most importantly, be your friend. Please join family and friends for a memorial service on Saturday, October 1 at 2:00 PM at the Wausau Masonic Center, 130 First Street. A reception will follow at the Hangar Lounge, VFW, 388 River Drive. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to Never Forgotten Honor Flight, P.O. Box 5056, Wausau, WI 54402-5056 or the South Beach Chamber Ensemble to support South Beach Up North, 1135 Euclid Avenue, Ste #1, Miami Beach, FL 33139.

Wausau Masonic Center



130 First Street Wausau WI 54401




Saturday, October 01, 2011
2:00 p.m.