Updated with obituary and memorial service information: A Celebration of Jack’s life will be held at Affordable Funeral Care (AFC),500 West Prospect Way, Moxee, WA 98936, Tel: 509-457-1232 on September 24, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Editor’s note: The address posted in the obituary says Prospect Place, but that will not yield the location on a map. Use 500 West Prospect Way, Moxee, WA. I’m told there is a K-mart visible at the exit you need to take.
If coming from Yakima:
At So. 1st St in Yakima, Take Nob Hill Blvd east (Hiway 24) 5.7 miles to the turn-off to Moxee which will be left on Bell Road, then left on W. Seattle Way, then left on Prospect Way. Just before the left turn to Moxee, you should be able to see the Affordable Funeral Care sign and building on your left.
Jacob Anthony Andreas
Affordable Funeral Care
YAKIMA – Jacob Anthony Andreas, 49, of Yakima, passed away Friday, September 2, 2011 at Landmark Care Center after a short courageous battle with cancer.
Jack was born March 23, 1962 in Yakima, WA to Joseph and Barbara (Mitzel) Andreas. Jack was raised and educated in Yakima, graduating from Davis High School. He attended trade school in Seattle for computers. Jack’s whole life was devoted to playing fast pitch softball. He traveled around the United States playing different positions for the JRW Fast Pitch Softball and Jack received several awards. He especially loved and enjoyed being with his family and loved being around children. He worked the past five years for Irwin Research before his illness forced an early retirement. He will be deeply missed by his family and all who knew and loved him.
Survivors include his brothers and sisters, Jim & Becky Andreas of Las Vegas, NV, Marlene Andreas of Yakima, Dianna (Johnson) & Gary Perrault of Yakima, Dennis & Kay Andreas of Boise, ID and Gerard & Theresa Andreas of Yakima; 9 nieces and nephews, several great-nieces and nephews; also several aunts, uncles, many cousins and good friends Tom and wife Billie Magers. He was preceded in death by his father July 1, 1973, mother October 30, 2000 and a nephew, Marc Andreas.
A Celebration of Jack’s life will be held at Affordable Funeral Care, 500 W. Prospect Way, Moxee, WA on September 24, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. Please come and share your memories with the family. Private Inurnment will be in Calvary Cemetery. Memorials may be made to any children’s sports association, c/o Affordable Funeral Care, P.O. Box 9907, Yakima, WA 98909.
Affordable Funeral Care is entrusted with the arrangements.
From Jim Williamson
Jake (Jack) “The Stat Man” Andreas passed away peacefully Friday night Sept 2, 2011 at the Landmark Nursing home in Yakima, WA.
Jake left his job at Irwin Manufacturing Co this summer due to intense 24/7 back pain. X-rays and L&I doctors could not find the cause.
One day as Jake stood up in his house, his leg collapsed under him. He was rushed to the hospital where a cat scan and MRI revealed a large tumor on his lung that had spread to his back. A 5 hour life-saving operation on his back kept Jack with us.
Shortly afterwards, Jake was transferred to the Landmark Nursing Home where his sister worked and which was close to the Cancer Treatment Center. Radiation and Chemotherapy treatments were begun and Jake responded fairly well.
A big event with photos and the doling out of memorabilia was Jake losing his famous “Randy Johnson” shoulder length hair.
Jake handled the ordeal very well and remained in positive spirits. He hung a sign in his room that read “No Pity Party Here”.
In the last couple of days, Jake lost the battle and finally moved on to play shortstop with the big coach in the sky.
Jake considered himself as having had a successful softball career. Early in his career he gained a World Championship ring as a member of the Seattle Hobnobber’s World Championship team. In his last game in 2010, Jake gained All-World honors at the NAFA Masters 45-OVER World Series in Carson City.
Jake started with JRW & Associates in 1979 and played on the 18-Under team who finished 5th in their first Nationals in Billings, Montana. After some time in Seattle, Jake returned to accumulate over 25 years with the JRW team.
It was amusing that Jake was at shortstop in every JRW game that went 12 innings or more until this year when the JRW team went 12 innings without our famous shortstop. The jinx was finally erased.
We did not realize how many friends Jake had accumulated in his lifetime until we let out the news of his very serious sickness. Jake will be remembered well.
Editor’s note:
This one hits hard as I’ve known Jake for some time, since my early days at NAFA. He always had a good word for Maddy and I when we started covering tournaments, and spent many a late night with good friend Jim Williamson finishing stats or scores for a bracket. I hadn’t heard from him for a while, but it was just a couple of weeks ago that he posted a comment here at Fastpitchwest, commending Jim Williamson for his ISC bracket work. I didn’t know that he had been sick until I learned the news of his passing. It was just not his way to tell people. We’ll miss you Jack, though I know that you have already started getting those stats in heaven in order…
Editor’s Note II:
Interesting: if you click to enlarge this photo, you’ll spot JRW & Associates on the bracket right above Jim’s cap. And above that? Houston Carnage, who this morning, advanced to the finals of the ASA “C” National winner’s bracket.
Dave Carlton says
I remember playing against Jack way back when I first started playing in the northwest. The epic battles at the Cherry Bowl replay like yesterday. I will always remember him as a scrappy player and intensely loyal student of the game. He seemed to wear a smile every time I saw him – even if he was still at the park 4 hours after JRW played, still working on keeping stats in order for us all. It was a selfess job to be a stat man – thats how much he loved the game. I barely knew him and it hit me pretty hard. You will be missed Jack.
John Rainbolt says
Jack was a true ambassador to the game. People like him are what keep this great game going. True passion and desire for a game he so loved. It was a pleasure playing gainst you my friend. rest In Peace jack. You will be missed.
Gil Gardner says
Jack,
You’ll surely be missed in the fastpitch world as a player and a stat man., but mainly as a person. There’s not to many people like you that care about this crazy game of fastpitch softball. I’ve enjoyed playing against you and with you on many teams through out the years. Your a fine competitor, and surely be missed. I’m sadden to hear about this news and will have to wait one day to reunite with you on the field again. Your friend.
Serena Foster says
Jack,
You and I played many games with and against each other. The ball park isn’t going to be the same without you. You looked after me like I was your little sister. Sometimes you would piss me off, but in the end I knew you had my best interest at heart. So thank you Jack from the bottom of my heart for being my friend. I Love you and will miss you.
p.s. I will keep an eye on Tom and Billie for you
kenny hix says
Scrappy Jack,
By his outward appearence Jack would probably be the last one picked when choosing sides. However that would be a mistake. In the end, he would be the one with the walk off basehit. Jack put pie in the eyes of many nasayers.
I have had the pleasure of playing with and against Jack, and would play on his team anyday. He LOVED fastpitch softball, like nobody else and it loved him. The game wil not be the same without my friend Jake (if i can be so honored to be one).
Jack I will not forget our laughs and will now remember my tears, I will miss you!
Kenny Hix
fpw says
Memorial service information added above, for September 24, 2011.
Jim Andreas says
On behalf of myself and the rest of Jack’s family we would like to thank all of you for your kind words, prayers and concerns. Jack would ask that we spare the tears and take in a good ball game because he feels this life was only first base, he is now running to second on a home run ball.
His brothers and sisters,
Jim, Marlene, Diane, Dennis & Geri
Gerard Andreas says
Hi All
This is Jack’s brother Gerard (Geri)
Thank you all for the very kind words,
Jack talked endlessly about the fun times he had at all the tournaments that he participated in and every game that he played.
He loved the people, and the game very much.
Your words are extremely appreciated.
Thank you all.
From Jacks Family
LaVerne Moore says
Jim, Dianna, Marlene, Dennis and Geri, I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Jack. Just doesn’t seem possible that little Jack is gone. What a wonderful life he had with his sport and his commitment to giving it his best. God now has him on his team and taking those stats. God bless you all and give you comfort at this difficult time.
LaVerne
Dennis Andreas says
First let me say a big thank you to all of you ! It is amazing and comforting to read all of the wonderful comments from SO many of Jack’s friends. It is great to know that Jack was loved and will be missed by so many people.
WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY,,,,,,, HE IS MY BROTHER !
Love you Jack
Dennis