Obituary of William E Andrae

William Ernest Andrae William Andrae was born on April 6, 1925 in Ferguson, MO of Ralph and Virginia Andrae, in Ferguson, MO, where he spent his childhood. Virginia died when Bill was five years of age. Ralph later married Gertrud Kummel and, together with Ralph, raised Bill as her own. Upon graduating from Ferguson HS, Bill enlisted in the US Army and, after training, was assigned to the 507th Parachute Regiment. He saw combat in the European Theater with one jump over the Rhine River. During the occupation, he met Carol Knudson in October 1945. After a whirlwind courtship, they were married in Germany by the mayor of Frankfurt on March 19, 1946. They spent their honeymoon in Rommel's chalet. After the war, they returned to St Louis, MO where Bill attended the Normandy and St. Louis Business School. He then went to work for Mack Truck. In 1948, Bill returned to the US Army and attended OCS at Ft. Riley, KS. Between 1948 and 1950, he had assignments at Ft. Eustis, VA, and Brooklyn Army Base, NY. In Aug 1950 their first son Jon was born. Shortly after that, they went to France with locations in Paris, LaRochelle, Blye, Rochefort, and Fouras. In May 1953, their second son Jay was born. From 1953 to 1955, they lived in Norfolk and Newport News, VA. Bill later graduated from Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, KS in 1957, followed by the first of two overseas assignments in Japan from 1957-1959 with locations in Fuchu, Tokyo, and Sagamihara. They returned to Florissant and St Louis, Mo between 1959-1961, followed by the second tour of duty in Japan from 1961-1964 with locations in Zama Courts, Fuchinobe, and Sagamihara. From 1964-1971 they lived in Eatontown, NJ, assigned to Ft. Monmouth, NJ. Bill retired from active duty at Ft. Monmouth in 1971. Between 1971-1981, he worked for the Defense Communications Agency as a senior Department Army Civilian, managing billion dollar procurements. Bill and Carol retired to Seminole Lakes County Club, Florida in 1981, where he refined his life-long passion for golf. He officiated in numerous tournaments in this area. Bill passed away just eight days shy of 64 years married to his true love, Carol. He is survived by his wife Carol, their sons Jon and his wife Peg, and Jay. He is also survived by his sister, and Carol Lynn Moyer, and grandchildren Theodore Jon Andrae and Pamela Sue Andrae.