Oliver A. Andrews, 84, Stevens Point, a professor emeritus
of chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP), died Tuesday,
Dec. 29, 2015, at Sylvan Crossings ending a battle with Parkinson’s disease.

A memorial celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m.
Saturday, Jan. 30, at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 600 Wilshire Blvd., Stevens Point.

Visitation will be at the church from 10 a.m. Saturday until
the service.

Shuda Funeral Services in Stevens Point and Plover assisted
with arrangements.

Condolences may be offered online at www.shudafuneral.com.

A memorial will be established in his name with The Michael
J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

Mr. Andrews was born Dec. 15, 1931, in Plymouth, a son of the
late Leslie and Verona (Miller) Andrews. He graduated from Plymouth High School.

He was married to Ellen Green of Waupaca June 9, 1951. They
raised five children.

His ties to UWSP spanned 40 years starting in 1949 when he
came to the then Central State Teachers College for its conservation program
and to play football on the team that became conference champions that fall. He
changed his major from conservation to chemistry his first year.

After received a bachelor’s degree in 1953, he spent six
years teaching science and coaching football at high schools in Bonduel and
Green Bay.

In 1956 he was one of 50 teachers chosen for one of the
first National Science Foundation (NSF) programs offered to advance the status
of secondary science instruction. The family then traveled together to colleges
such as Kenyon College, Michigan State University, University of Kansas and
Brown University for various NSF programs.

He spent 29 years as a chemistry teacher at UWSP.

Mr. Andrews twice won the campus-wide “Excellence in
Teaching Award” in 1968 and 1975 as a chemistry professor at UWSP.

Discouraged by the quality of available text books to teach introductory
chemistry, he wrote his own chemistry book and workbook, “Basic Chemical
Concepts,” and then compiled the book himself with the assistance of his family
so that his students would not incur an excessive cost to purchase the
textbook.

He became a swim coach, swim official and later in his life
a daily YMCA lap swimmer. He was instrumental in the startup of the Steven
Point Area YMCA competitive swim team program in 1968 before the YMCA had a
swimming pool. The team practiced at other area pools until a pool was built
for the YMCA. All his children became competitive swimmers.

Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Ellen; five children,
Jeff (Bronwyn Lind) Andrews, Greg (Linda Zelewski) Andrews, Bev (Eric) Buchner,
Nancy (Rick) Dow and Shirley (Eric Sharer) Andrews-Sharer; one sister, Joan
Meston; 14 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

He was also preceded in death by one infant son, Mark; and
one brother, Adrian.