Victor Vic Conrad Andresen
March 04, 1943 - January 25, 2017
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Victor Vic Conrad Andresen
March 04, 1943 - January 25, 2017
Obituary
The Gentle Giant is gone.
Vic Andresen, 73, died peacefully with his wife, Jean, at his side on 1/25/17. Vic died of heart failure. He was born in Berkeley, CA on March 4, 1943, the third child of Raymond and Celia Andresen.
Vic’s love of travel started at a young age when he celebrated his 5th birthday traveling back from Bahrain where his father had built a refinery. The journey via BOAC flying boats, train, and Vulcania Oceanliner took twenty-one days from Bahrain to SanFrancisco. What a thrill for a 5 year old! The family settled in New York where Vic attended Purchase Grammar School and graduated from Rye High School in 1962. Vic was a Boy Scout during his formative years. He spent a summer at Philmont Scout Ranch. This experience reinforced his love of the outdoors.
Vic earned a business degree from University of Montana in 1967. He moved to California and worked for Wells Fargo Bank from 1967-73.
On Memorial Day, 1971, he met his future wife, Jean Schuler, on a Sierra Club hike. One year later on Memorial Day, Vic and Jean tied the knot amongst the Giant Sequoias of Calaveras Big Trees State Park. They enjoyed many years of hiking and traveling.
In 1980, his love of the outdoors led him to attend Fresno State University and earn an MS in Geology. He spent 13 years working for Mobil Oil as a petroleum geologist. His specialty was finding gas fields in Kansas. In 1994, Vic joined the US Forest Service as a hydrologist. His extensive knowledge of Southern California watersheds made him an expert in forest rehabilitation after wildfire damage. Vic retired from the Angeles National Forest in 2006. He enjoyed many hiking and camping trips with his fellow Forest Service friend and retiree, Richard Borden. Vic and his brother, Fred, traveled to Denmark to explore their ancestry. Later he volunteered for EarthWatch Expeditions in Iceland, Skagit Valley, and Costa Rica. He also volunteered at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. Vic delighted in starting plants, from cherry tomatoes to Giant Sequoias, from seed.
Vic and Jean moved to Bellingham in 2011. He continued his volunteer work with the Community Boating Center and Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, where he was honored as Volunteer of the Year in 2013. He wrote three Salmon Science articles for the NSEA newsletter, Fish Tales. Vic has been an active member of Sunrise Rotary since moving to Bellingham.
He continues to serve for the greater good. His body was donated to Lake Washington Institute of Technology for their funeral service education. Vic is predeceased by his parents and his sister Anita Priessman(1965). He is survived by his wife Jean; brother, Fred (Carol); nephews Gary (Beth), Paul (Elizabeth) and Erik (Lorraine) Priessman; niece, Nancy Jones (Allen); and ten great nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Vic’s life will be held in the spring when the rhododendrons bloom.
Memorial gifts may be sent to
Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, PO Box 32594, Bellingham 98228;
Community Boating Center, 555 Harris Ave, Bellingham 98225; or
Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, 1500 N College Ave, Claremont, CA 91711
Memorial Service
- Date & Time: June 11, 2017 (12:00 AM)
- Venue: NSEA
- Location: 3057 East Bakerview Road Bellingham, WA 98226 - (Get Directions)
28 responses to Victor Vic Conrad Andresen
Fred and Carol Andresen says:
January 25, 2017
We have such wonderful memories of Vic–over many years and many occasions. Fred was his “big brother” in their family–notably before 1950, during the years spent overseas. Then there were the cross-country drives…Vic and Anita actually did more of those.
Though we’ve never lived on the same coast as adults, we were able to share a few memorable vacations. “Uncle Vic” was always a favorite of our children and grandchildren. His knowledge of nature and passion for the outdoors are truly his legacy.
We will miss him and share with Jean an emptiness which seems unreal still.
Love, Fred and Carol
Riley Stevens says:
January 25, 2017
Vic was a force of nature, filled with knowledge, kindness and happiness enough to share with anyone he met. Being so far away I didn’t spend nearly enough time with him, but what we did have together leaves a lasting memory of a wonderful man. I’m so sorry for your loss. He made this a much better world.
Nick Teel says:
January 25, 2017
Jean,
What wonderful memories I have of the gentle giant. I will never forget the first time I walked into our dorm room and saw Vic’s shoes (he was out wandering around the campus) and wondered who I had drawn as a roommate. Was I ever so blessed when we did meet in person. Over the three years we spent together at the U of M we had many an interesting adventure and conversation. It is still hard to vison Vic as a switch board operator, but he did it very nicely. More than once we drove to Canada to buy Canadian coins so we could use them for tips and make some money on the exchange rate. There was the time we walked out of a restaurant both thinking the other had put money down to pay for our meals, but neither of us had. Needless to say, since Vic did stand out in a crowd, we didn’t go back to that restaurant for several months for fear they would remember we were the ones that had stiffed them earlier.
I felt very honored that Vic asked me to be his Best Man at your wedding and to this day regret that I was unable to make it because of previously made vacation plans. I am still enjoying the photos that were taken at our wedding with Vic as my Best Man. We are so glad you both were able to come to the weddings of both of our daughters.
Good man and a good friend. We may not have seen that much of each other over the last few decades, but that doesn’t diminish the feeling I have regarding Vic. In no way could I have asked for a better room mate while I was at the University of Montana.
Nick Teel
Nino Getts says:
January 25, 2017
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of Victor. I met him in 1957 at PGS, we were in the same class. I saw him later at one of the reunions, and he was as personable as ever. I read his obituary and I am very impressed with all of his accomplishments. I know he will be missed and send my sincere condolences.
Kermit and Beth Shields says:
January 25, 2017
Vic stood tall in many ways. When we were hiking in Colorado, he could always see over the bushes to help us find the trail. At Mobil, he was able to rise above the politics and consistently produce great work. As a friend, he always rose to the top of the list as one we could depend on. We’ll always believe that he is looking over us – ready to lend a hand. He will always be part of us.Kermit and Beth