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Notices are posted by 10 am Monday through Saturday
ANDY WHICHER
It is with tremendous sadness that we announce the death in Winnipeg of Andrew James (Andy) Whicher, age 63, after a yearlong struggle with a virulent glio blastoma.
Andy's fight with his cancer was a mirror of his life. He was always ready to push through physical pain to achieve his goals. As a teen, he stroked the St. Catharines Collegiate heavy eights rowing team to a Henley championship. A year later he stroked the Canadian National junior eight to a win over the US national junior eight. In 1980 he became an Olympian, rowed internationally for Canada, but missed his Olympic Games in Moscow because of the boycott following Russia's invasion of Afghanistan. To compensate for this disappointment, he trained for and participated in the Iron Man triathlon in Hawaii. Even in later life he continued pushing himself hard in his gym workouts.
In work, he studied hard and became a highly skilled computer network technician.
Andy is survived by his adored wife Korey, her parents Harry and Kathy Williams, his loving children Jessica (Kyle), Sara (Christian), Davis (Avery) and their mother Sue, his granddaughter Juni, his parents Mary McGhee, and Jim Whicher (Patti} and his siblings Steve (Sara), Monica (Gord) and Jeff (Kelly) and their families.
A celebration of Andy's life will be held at a yet to be decided place and time.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 08, 2022
Condolences & Memories (3 entries)
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My condolences to the McGhee and Whicher families on the loss of Andy. - Posted by: Mary Coates-Korpela (acquaintance/friend) on: Oct 24, 2022
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I met Andy in the gym while I was attending University of Victoria, and he was training for the upcoming Olympics with the Canadian Rowing team. He had an infectious smile, ruthless workout ethic, and could sing and dance like nobody. He made life happen, and because of this people were drawn to his energetic personality. He often talked about his wonderfully talented family from Thunder Bay, which I was fortunate enough to meet. We met up again in Winnipeg for a short afternoon visit, where he talked about his incredible children and his beautiful Korey. He was beaming with pride and an outpouring of love for you all. I feel very blessed to have been a friend to Andy all those years ago, and that we were able to reconnect. He was a thoughtful, kind and loving man who will be missed by all that were lucky to know him. In his memory I will raise a pint, play Browne Running on Empty, close my eyes and hear him singing incredible harmony in the background. Monica Jones - Posted by: Monica Jones (Friend ) on: Oct 11, 2022
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I suffered a serious neck I jury 2 weeks before classes started at the Profesional Institute of Massage Therapy in Winnipeg. Symptoms started early in the school season. Andy took me aside and spent 15 minutes healing me enough to carry on several times before graduating. I doubt I could have completed the course without his help. We traded Massage for the next 5 years and became close friends, this ended when he quitsssage for computer security. I remembered him often and tried to locate him unsuccessfully a few times. I am saddened to hear he is gone. He was very dear to me. I offer my condolences to all who will miss him especially his children who wete so young they won't remember me and Susan, with gratitude to her for her part in my training as well. God bless - Posted by: Henry Zacharias (Massage student and friend) on: Oct 08, 2022