Joe Theodore Andrews

Joe Theodore Andrews died peacefully May 24, 2018 at the Niobrara Health and Life Center surrounded by family. He was born in Lusk, Wyoming, November 26, 1929 to Eva Crystalline (Baldwin) and Charles Harold Andrews.

He loved Lusk and spent almost all of his life here. As a young boy, his family homesteaded for several years in the Hat Creek area. They moved to New Jersey but came back after a few years. He graduated from Lusk High School on May 25, 1945 but did not receive his high school diploma until May 25, 1950 as he spent several years working to support his younger siblings. His first job was at Casey Drugstore working there from 1944 to 1947. He then worked on the Paul Williams ranch as well as for other area ranchers.

He joined the National Guard in 1947 and was assigned to the motor pool section of the 103rd Transport Company achieving the rank of corporal. He was reassigned to the radio communications section and trained for 16 weeks in Fort Knox, Kentucky. He was inducted into the U.S. Army in April 1952, serving in the 8th Engineer Battalion, 1st Calvary Division. He was discharged January 1957. It was while he was serving in northern Japan that he met Emiko (Amy) Masuda. They were married in a Japanese civil ceremony on November 1, 1953 which was certified by the U.S. Consulate Office in Sapporo, Japan on August 16, 1954.

His oldest daughter June was born while he was stationed in Japan. His second daughter Eva was born while he was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Returning to Lusk after his discharge, his third daughter Norma and son James were born at the Spencer Hospital. He went to work for Wasson Chevrolet as a parts manager. In 1965 he left to form his own business, Joe’s Fixit Service which did small engine and appliance repair and he sold various types of small machinery. In 1967 he began to work for Charles Christian Enterprises and in 1970 was promoted to manager of the Southside Truck Stop. When that business was sold in 1980, he again went into business for himself as J.T. Andrews Company and Andrews Modern Roofing until the mid 1990s.

He also worked as a video technician for the University of Wyoming compressed video program through Niobrara Community Education and as a distributor of various product lines including janitorial supplies, fertilizers, essential oils and nutritional supplements. For a time, he and Amy ran the small gift boutique, Treasure World. He was always trying to improve his knowledge and skills and was very interested in alternative healing methods and learned various healing techniques. He continued to contribute to others health and well-being by being a tissue donor upon his death.

Always involved in the life of the community he was a member of both the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Jaycees, the Lions Club, and the Elks. He served in leadership positions in these organizations and volunteered countless hours to community projects on their behalf. He is the second of four generations of the family that have participated in the Legend of the Rawhide.

An avid reader, he loved to discuss politics and philosophy. He always enjoyed work in his garden as time and health allowed. He has influenced generations of young people in Lusk as a work supervisor, a leadership mentor, and a volunteer in the community.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 62 years and his sister, Thelma. Survivors include brothers Melvin and John; his four children - June Boutwell, Eva Titchener and husband Al, Norma Langston, and James Andrews and wife Hannah; grandchildren Jeremy and Stephen Boutwell and wife Amber, Austin Erlewine, Jonna and Ethan Langston and wife Betsy, and great grandchildren Lyrica and Paisleah Langston and Connor Theodore Boutwell. Services will be held at the Congregational Church on May 31 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Niobrara Community Hospital Long Term Care.

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