Obituary of Jim Andrews

James Gordon Andrews, 89, of Iowa City, Iowa, passed away peacefully at Briarwood Health Care Center on May 27, 2024.

Jim or ‘Jamie ‘as he was called by family, was born in Iowa City, Iowa on September 27, 1934, to George Gordon Andrews and Etta (Bickert) Andrews. The family lost George Gordon when Jamie was 4 years old. Etta never remarried and raised all four children on her own. Jamie graduated from Iowa City High School in 1952 and attended college in the ROTC program at the University of Iowa from 1952-1956, graduating Magna Cum Laude with his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He married the love of his life and classmate Barbara Jean Waller on August 31, 1957. Jamie continued his education at the University of Iowa earning his Master’s of Science in Mechanics and Hydraulics in 1959. After graduation Jamie reported for Active Duty to the US Army Corps of Engineers at Ft. Belvoir, VA from 1958 to 1960. He was proud to serve his country in the Army as 2nd Lieutenant on Feb 2, 1957, then 1st Lieutenant on Feb 2, 1960.

From 1960-1964, Jamie attended the PhD program, Dept. of Aeronautics and Engineering Mechanics, University of Minnesota. In the fall of 1964, Jim returned to Iowa City, accepting a professorship at the University of Iowa in the Mechanical Engineering Department.

During his academic career he had a Secondary Appointment in the Department of Exercise Science, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (1984-1998); and an Adjunct Appointment in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, at the College of Medicine (1970-1990) helping design the mechanics for the artificial knee. Jamie retired as Emeritus Professor in September 1999 but continued to publish and participate in the professional societies he was devoted to, most notably the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). He was very devoted to his role as advisor to his students, BS, BSME and PhD students. There were many lifelong friendships formed from this mentorship, and Jamie’s children have great memories of him bringing students home for dinner, getting to know them, having great conversations and a lot of laughs, many keeping in touch to this day.

Jamie was a very humble and unassuming man, and very authentic. He was most comfortable in his army fatigues, jeans or some old tennis shorts. He liked to be outside, he walked everywhere and hardly ever drove the car, unless he had to. He was always glad to see you, and would say, “Hello, hello, hello!” in his sing-song voice, which always made a person feel properly greeted, and about to have a good conversation. Jamie was a very appreciative man as well, appreciating a cold beer, a good meal, time with family (bonus for extended family), and good times with friends. If you told him something stupid had happened (usually political), he would look down, say “Jesus!!” and shake his head. And then smile.

Whether you knew him as Jim or as Jamie, you knew tennis was a big part of his life. Jamie and his younger brother Arthur took tennis lessons from Don Klotz at an early age, and Jamie continued to play throughout his life until his stroke in 2010.  Jamie became the two-time State of Iowa Singles Tennis Champion, and Big Ten Number 2 Singles Tennis Champion in 1954. He played tennis with his wife Barb for years and they loved those years playing tennis together. Jamie was an eternal optimist and had a great sense of humor. He was well known for giving Barb ‘the eyebrow’ which would make her laugh every time. Jamie was also known for giving good advice, and he cherished being able to be there for family and friends.  Family, friends and students benefitted from his words of wisdom over the years. He will be greatly missed.

He was proceeded in death by his wife Barbara, his parents George and Etta, brother Mitchell Andrews, sister-in-law Patricia Andrews, brother-in-law Norman Rudi, and nephew Christopher Rudi.

Jamie is survived by his sister Ann Andrews Rudi, brother Arthur William Andrews, children Elisabeth (Mark) Strommer, Rebecca Andrews, and Robert (Jill) Andrews, grandchildren Taylor and Clark Andrews, Nina Linkletter, Shelby and Richard Strommer, Stacey (Eric) McCreedy, and great-grandson Bennett McCreedy, nieces Michelle (Mark Eshleman) Rudi Rupiper and Stephanie (Tim) Smith, and nephew Paul Andrews.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the loving and caring people at Briarwood Health Care Center who helped care for Jamie over the past 14 years and Essence of Life Hospice for the last month who treated him as they would their own family. Jamie’s family cannot express how much gratitude they feel for the loving care, friendship and peace of mind your care brought to him and to us, his family. Thank you and bless you.

Memorial services will be held at 4pm Friday, June 14, 2024, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Services in Iowa City.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Iowa PBS formerly known as Iowa Public Television (IPTV) known for educational programming,   which as a life-long educator, Jamie admired and donated to every month. Services will be livestreamed on the funeral home website @ www.gayandciha.com at Jim’s page under obituary (Click arrow). You may also share a memory, thought or condolence on Jim’s website page.