Jessica Zimmerman Andrews

Our beautiful Jessica was born on Easter Day 1986 and passed away Easter Day 2006. I am sorry it has been hard for me to write a detailed biography of my wife. So here is a short summary of Jessica from myself. I hope to get some writing about Jessica on here from her parents sometime soon.

Our first date was June 24, 2005. I know it sounds cheesy but from the moment I saw her I knew there was something special about her. I found out later on after we had been dating a while she felt the same way. It was a perfect date and everything was going great until we walked out to my car and found out that someone had broken into it. I remember thinking that I had the worst luck in the world. I finally find a beautiful and sweet woman and I don't mess anything up during the date and I get her leather jacket stolen out of my car. She on the other hand said jackets can be replaced and it was worth going out with me. I knew after that first night I wanted to be with her.

Jessica and myself were inseparable. We spent every moment we could together even through the training I was going through in preparation for my deployment to Iraq. Jessica was the first person outside of my family that I ever said "I love you" to. The first time I told her she had the most beautiful smile on her face I will never forget. She said she loved me too and hugged each other and held each other in our arms for hours. Being in love was the greatest feeling I have ever had.

The months we spent together before my deployment were the best of my life. I told Jessica about my deployment when we first met and she said she would wait for me to come back. I believed her too. She was so loving, caring, and mature I knew our relationship could last. About a month before I was supposed to leave she took a pregnancy test because she was worried she may be pregnant. On November 9, 2005 we found out that Jessica and I were going to have a baby. Of course her first reaction was fear and shock. Mine was just shock. She was worried but I told her that I loved her and that she was going to be a mommy and this is a great thing for us. She was still worried but I could tell when I said mommy it made her smile with joy.

We talked about marriage when I came back from Iraq but with the news of a baby on the way we decided to move our plans up. November 14, 2005 I told Jessica I would love her and be with her for the rest of my life.

The last time I saw Jessica was November 29, 2005. Obviously I wasn't thinking that at the time. While in Iraq I called Jessica at least once a day for an hour to an hour in a half. If I had to wait in line at 2am after a 15 hour work day I still called her. Everyday I talked to her and told her how much I love her and can't wait to come home to a family. I remember calling her after her appointment to find out the gender of the baby. After I finally got through to her I asked what is the baby going to be. She responded all giggly and happy that I had to call her in 5 minutes because she was driving on post back to our house. I knew then that it was going to be a girl. She for some reason thought we were going to have a boy but she wanted a girl. I called her back and screamed with joy that she had a she in her belly. I was the happiest father in Iraq that day and couldn't stop talking about how I was going to be the father of a baby girl. After much discussion over the weeks we decided to name her Alyssa Hope Andrews.

April 16, 2006 was my first day off in Iraq. I told Jessica the night before I would call her a little later so I could sleep in some. I tried calling her that morning and could not reach her. I tried all day and could not get a hold of Jessica. I was worried so called her Mom who called her Dad who lived in Colorado Springs and could check on her. I was woken up in the middle of the night and told the worst thing anyone could tell a husband and father.

April 16, 2006 Jessica and Alyssa Andrews were called by God to be with him. They are now my angels and have kept me safe and watched over me since. Many people ask and send emails of what happened. The sad thing is her family still does not know why. We believe it was complications with the pregnancy but we are still told it was "Undetermined Natural Causes."

Not a minute goes by that I am not thinking of them. We will be together again and that will be a glorious day. Jessica was,still, and always will be the most beautiful, loving and caring individual I have ever met. I love you Jessica and Alyssa.

Your loving husband and father.

The following is the obituary from the Colorado Springs Gazette.

Love is not measured by length of time but by the depth of emotion.

Jessica Andrews 20, passed away April 16, 2006 at home. She was born in Zweibruken, Germany on March 30, 1986 to Michael and Monika Zimmerman. Jessica was a wife and mother, loving and loveable, funny, patriotic and respected all military soldiers for their dedication to our country.

She was beautiful inside and out. Jessica, a newlywed, was married to Ross Andrews in November 2005, shortly before he was deployed to Iraq; where he was serving with the US Army at the time of her passing. Ross and Jessica were expecting a child in June of this year; Baby Alyssa Hope Andrews passed away with her mother.

Jessica leaves to cherish memories her husband; Ross, mother; Monika Zimmerman, her sister Sarah, father; Michael Zimmerman who is currently stationed at Peterson Air Force, stepmother; Nursim Zimmerman, father in law; Douglas Andrews, mother in law; Diane Disque Andrews, brothers in law; Max and Sam Andrews.

Forever in our hearts!

Forever loved!