Andrew Hastings Sander

Andrew Hastings Sander, age 23, of Olathe, KS, passed away at 5:49 pm on Saturday, May 21, 2022, at the University of Kansas Medical Center, after a 7-month courageous battle with an aggressive form of T-cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma (and ultimately, Leukemia). When he took his last breath, Andrew was holding his parents’ hands, and was surrounded by close family and about 20 of the most amazing friends anyone could ask for.

Andrew was born to Amy (LaGrone) & Brent Sander on January 19, 1999, at 3:41pm at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka, KS. Andrew is also survived by his adoring sister, Austyn (age 19). In Topeka, Andrew and Austyn attended Whitson Elementary School, where their mother had also attended and their “Mimi” was a teacher. As a family, in April 2008, at the end of Andrew’s fourth grade year, they moved from Topeka to Olathe. After moving, he attended Ravenwood Elementary, Prairie Trail Middle School and graduated from Olathe Northwest High School in 2017. For the past seven years, he has lived with his mom and sister, but moved by himself to Florissant, CO, for several months in 2018. Andrew worked at Discount Tire (Overland Park, KS) from April 8, 2019, until the date of his diagnosis on October 11, 2021. He loved his job and the people he worked with … it was one of the things he missed most during the last seven months of his life.

Throughout his life, Andrew was passionate about many things. As a young boy, he loved Legos, Matchbox Cars, Native American culture, Rescue Heroes, “Squishy Things”, and unsuccessfully attempted to like soccer, basketball and flag football. He always seemed to prefer nature and reptiles/amphibians/snakes, and there were always 7-20 of these types of creatures in the house from 5th grade on. He loved and collected yoyos, diabolos and kendamas, and was very gifted at all three. He was passionate about tennis shoes and fashion, and was very known for these interests (and how many pairs of shoes he owned). Over the years, he played and had all of the equipment for airsoft, archery and paintball. He was always very good at any of these types of activities that he tried (most likely due to his stubbornness, competitiveness and desire to succeed). Andrew loved good (and expensive) food and had intended to start learning to prepare this type of food at home. He hoped to someday visit Japan, Europe, Las Vegas and New York City. His favorite TV show was “The Office” (of which he has seen over 21 times in its entirety) and his favorite movie was “Shawshank Redemption”. Andrew’s mom, whom he shared a special and rare connection with, never left his side for seven months; and together, they were able to watch 283 movies, hundreds of YouTube videos and nine television series (not counting “The Office” which was always on when nothing else was).

Andrew’s heart and soul lived in the mountains. He was lucky to spend most of his summers at the LaGrone family cabin in Lake City, CO, where his “Gaga” taught him how to fly fish when he was very young. Andrew had plans to take his “brothers-by-choice”, Tanner and Cole, to the cabin this August and teach them how to fly fish … he even bought them all of their equipment a few months ago. Andrew had recently decided that he wanted to move to Lake City and become a permanent resident once he was well.

Andrew was known for his “old school” manners, determination, and passion and dedication to those he cared about. He loved a good debate, loved to have fun, would do anything for his friends, and could (and would) start a conversation with anyone. Even on his worst days, the days when he was the sickest, he would still tell every nurse, doctor and hospital employee “thank you”. He spent more time in the hospital and the Cancer Center than not, but he was still gracious, kind and caring … never once complaining.

Andrew was passionate about so many things in life, but nothing more than his family and friends. He was lucky enough to have the most incredible group of friends imaginable. His parents truly believe these amazing young people, and the rare connection they all have, are the reason he was able to fight as long as he did, and that they were solely responsible for his ability to survive the last few days of treatment in St. Louis so he could travel back and live his final two weeks in KC.

In addition to his parents and sister, Andrew is also survived by his grandparents: Charles Stephen “Gaga” LaGrone and Mary Sue “Grandma” (Lesseig) & John “Grandpa” Sander; aunts and uncles: Ivy (Engelken) & Chris LaGrone and Tara (Reiners) & Chuck Sander; cousins: Elana LaGrone, Caleb LaGrone, Aryn Sander (& Adam Davis), and Zachary (& Abigail) Sander; godmother: Erin (Willard) Newman; stepmom: Lesli (Derr Grabill) Sander; many loving great aunts, uncles and cousins; and a very large group of loyal friends, the best friends imaginable.

Andrew was preceded in death by his adoring grandmother, Mary Gail “Mimi” (Grantham) LaGrone; all great grandparents; and several other extended family members.

Andrew’s parents and sister would like to thank the countless number of people who have been there for Andrew and their families over the past seven months. Your continued support, love, prayers, gifts, words of encouragement, and donations were the lifeline that held them all together during this very traumatic and difficult journey. They would also like to thank the doctors, nurses and other staff at the KU Med Westwood Cancer Center for caring for and loving their son so much, as well as everyone in the Cancer Unit at the KU Med Hospital.

“Boog” fought harder than anyone can imagine and he gave it all he had until the very last breath. His family is so proud of him … he was a warrior. He was too young to go, but he has now GONE FISHIN’ IN HEAVEN.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Life Church (21001 W 101st St, Lenexa, KS) on Saturday, June 11, 2022, at 10:00am. (Andrew would be very upset if anyone wore “dressy clothes”. Please consider wearing jeans, shorts, t-shirts, Chiefs or K-State attire, your favorite pair of tennis shoes, etc.) Immediately following the service, there will be a picnic at Shawnee Mission Park. (Details given at the service, but bring your lunch, outdoor games and fishing poles.) At 8:00pm, those that want to, will celebrate Andrew’s life the way he would want it celebrated, at his favorite dive bar, The Double Nickel (in Olathe).

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in one of two ways, both things that mattered a great deal to Andrew:

1. Educational Trust Fund for his sister, Austyn. (While the trust is in the process of being established, checks may be made payable to “Amy Sander” and mailed to 12365 S. Pine St, Olathe, KS 66061. Please indicate “Austyn Sander Trust” on the memo.)

2. Lake Fork Valley Conservancy in Lake City, Colorado. A web page is being established for donations in Andrew’s name. These funds will go specifically toward the conservation and restocking of the stream and protection of the land near the LaGrone cabin. Protecting Andrew’s home away from home, and final resting spot. https://www.lfvc.org/