Andruss III, Lee Joseph Died on April 10, in Olympia, WA, ending his loving, joyous and adventurous life. His death came just two days shy of his 64th birthday and occurred due to post-surgical complications. Lee is survived by his wife, Trude; step-daughter, Krystel Nysted; grandson, Simon; mother, Evangeline; "little" brothers, Jeffrey (Pam), John (Donna) and Tim (Alenka); and uncle, Earl C. Young. Lee will also be missed by mother-in-law, Mary Storm; sister-in-law, June; and brother-in-law, Tory. He was preceded in death by his father, Lee J. Andruss Jr. "Lee III," nicknamed Corky in his youth, was born in Urbana, Illinois, April 12, 1949, to Lee and Evangeline.
He spent his childhood in Skokie, then Wilmette, Illinois, where he enjoyed many fruitful years in Boy Scout Troop Three. Lee also began his lifelong addiction to the Chicago Cubs at this time. (I believe he is still the only person to ever steal first base in Wrigley Field!) He passed through Central (Stolp) Elementary and Howard Jr. High Schools before graduating from New Trier East HS in 1967.
Lee then attended Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana. In 1970 he married his first wife, Nancy (Freeman) of Evanston, Illinois, and they shared 18 years together. In the early 1970's Lee worked in the family real estate business, Andruss Realty in Kenilworth, Illinois, with both his father and grandmother, Ann.
Lee lived in Boulder, Colorado, from the mid-seventies to mid-eighties working as a carpenter and forming a lasting passion for the outdoors. He returned to Chicago's North Shore where he became re-acquainted with his wife-to-be, Trude Storm, whom he had known in high school. They were wed March 24, 1990. Lee, Trude and her daughter Krystel lived in Lake Bluff, Illinois, and he continued his work in the building trades. Both loving fishing, Lee and Trude spent much time in Door County, Wisconsin, at her parent's home enjoying the peaceful "east coast of the Midwest". Lee was an avid reader and could carry on knowledgeable conversations about nearly any topic. Lee and Trude migrated west, first to Portland, Oregon, then to Olympia, Washington, in 2002 following their daughter who began attending The Evergreen State College in Olympia. They became grandparents in 2006 to Krystel's new baby boy, Simon. Lee seized the role with passion and truly became a father figure to his grandson. They spent countless hours, just being pals. Lee would, certainly, count this among his most important roles in life, and gained such joy from their time together. Lee left us way too soon; but no one could say he didn't savor life, looking under just about every stone he encountered. He was ever curious and had an insatiable thirst for life's varied textures. Family and friends will gather in Olympia, Washington, August 4 for a remembrance.
Any contacts will be welcomed, sent to Tim Andruss, PO Box 8956, Lacey, WA 98509, or andrusst@hotmail.com.
Published in a Chicago Tribune Media Group Publication from June 27 to July 3, 2013
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/chicagotribune/obituary.aspx?n=lee-j-andruss&pid=165548923