Andrew Tjaden

1983 - 2015

Andrew Tjaden

In Memory of Andrew Lee Tjaden, November 20, 1983 - September 26, 2015. Our affectionate, handsome and gentle son and brother, Andrew Lee Tjaden, died Saturday morning in his apartment in Elgin. Andy was born November 20, 1983 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He came kicking and fighting his way into our family several weeks premature during an early South Dakota winter storm, as if he couldn't wait to begin his life. The 50 miles of one-inch ice covered roads to the hospital were scary at best and we certainly did not get to that chapter in the parenting classes. He started life young and small and grew into a charismatic young man with an addictive personality. He was so likeable and cool, and like all of us, he had his challenges which were sometimes nearly overwhelming. Yet with faith, perseverance, open honesty and help from his family, we successfully kept our eye on a bright, fulfilling and optimistic future.

Andy was a trusted friend to many; he would talk baseball, football and soccer to anyone and everyone. In 1992, at the age of nine, he moved to Elgin with his family. Growing up, Andy was active in Elgin area baseball and other sports, and it was through baseball that we developed life-long friends and fantastic memories, as we became part of the Elgin community. Andy attended Hillcrest Elementary, Kimball Middle School and Larkin High School and went on to earn his Bachelor Degree at Northern Illinois University. His formative church years and upbringing were at First United Methodist in Elgin.

His most recent passion was in becoming a licensed barber. He studied the profession incessantly while attending The Barber Academy, and he developed a plan and clear vision with colleagues and coworkers he met in the profession.

We miss Andy dearly and our hearts are heavy with grief, yet we are exceptionally proud to have raised him, nurtured him, and struggled with him. We loved him so much; and now we must move on together. Andy leaves behind his sister, Sarah Lynn Tjaden, his 'Mom', Sherry, and 'Pops', Lynn, grandparents, Robert Van Beek and Muriel Junker, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and aunts, uncles, cousins, and true friends too numerous to mention, as well as Speedy, his favorite cat. Andy is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Eilert and Millie Tjaden, and his Uncle Cliff Tjaden, all of South Dakota.

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 2, 2015 from 4 - 9 p.m. at the Laird Funeral Home, Elgin, with a funeral service held at 7:30 p.m. and a memorial visitation will be held on Monday, October 5, 2015 from 5-7 p.m. at the Miller Funeral Home, 507 S. Main St., Sioux Falls, SD. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Anderson Animal Shelter of South Elgin.

God bless you, Andrew Tjaden. Thank you for sharing your life with us; you will be forever in our hearts.