Obit: Wallen, Andrew Thor (1967 – 2009)

Contact: Dolores

Surnames: Wallen, Danielson, Tuma

----Source: Banner Journal (Black River Falls, Jackson Co., WI.) September 30, 2009

Wallen, Andrew Thor (4 September 1967 – 19 September 2009)

Andrew Thor Wallen, born to Robert and Susan Wallen of Windsor Sept. 4, 1967, in Madison, died Sept. 19, 2009, after a heroic battle with gastric cancer at St. Francis Hospital, Evanston, IL, surrounded by his wife and family.

He attended De Forest High School, Ripon College, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he was a member of AXE Fraternity.  He married Kirstie K Danielson July 31, 1999, and lived in Madison pursuing his passions for life; art, photography, food and knowledge until their move in 2006, to Hyde Park, Chicago, where he served as the building engineer for the historic national landmark, Windermere House.

He is survived by his wife Kirstie; dogs Scooter and Maggie; parents Robert and Susan; sister Sara Tuma (Wallen); in-laws Ron and Sheila Danielson (Black River Falls); and relations and friends too numerous for brevity.

The family wishes to extend endless gratitude to The Block Center for Integrative Cancer Care and St. Francis Hospital for their efforts and care for Andrew.

Burial will take place Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 at 10 a.m. at Oak Hill Cemetery in Merrimac. A tribute to Andrew will be held at 1:30 p.m. East Side Businessman’s Club, 3735 Monona Dr. Madison.

To honor Andrew’s wishes, a Honky Tonk Bash will follow at 4 p.m. at the crystal Corner Bar, 1302 Williamson St. Madison.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to “the Andrew Wallen Memorial Fund,” c/o Co-op Credit Union, P. O. Box 157, Black River Falls, WI 54615.  Funds will be used to establish a future scholarship in Andrew’s name.

“Eventually I made peace with the fact that cancer might kill me at some point.  I was diligently working the best plan I could find to fight it, so if it killed me, it killed me.  At least I could say I fought the good fight and gave it my all.” ATW, July 2009