Beloved Bartlett pastor loses battle with cancer

A beloved pastor who served and was in turn served by his church throughout a difficult battle with cancer has died.

The Rev. Timothy Andrus, pastor of Village Church of Bartlett since 2004, passed away Friday. He was 52.

As he fought the cancer and finally had to give up his duties this summer, he nonetheless had his church members in the forefront of his mind, his wife Linda said Saturday.

"He continued to pray for his parishioners, and minister in ways that he could," she said.

Andrus, born in Oak Park, attended North Park University and later Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, Ind., for his master of divinity degree.

He met Linda at church when she was a nursing student. The pair were married in 1982, and had a son, Nathan, who is now 14.

After serving at River Grove Bible Church from 1987 to 1996, the Andruses moved to Hanover Park in 1997, to work with the International Ministries at Awana International in Streamwood. They also led the youth group at the Village Church of Carol Stream.

In 2004, he moved the Village Church of Bartlett.

Linda Andrus said her husband especially loved to work with children, helping them grow in their faith.

Outside of church, he was an avid golfer and outdoorsman, who enjoyed long walks and simply taking in nature.

In 2006, he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, but continued to work at the church throughout his treatment.

It was only after an operation for a brain tumor in late June that he gave up many of his duties.

Linda, too, was diagnosed with cancer in 2007, and after months of treatment, is now cancer free.

Church members set up a Web site, www.timandlinda.org, to collect donations and keep community members updated on the families struggles.

Linda regularly added updates.

On Friday, the day Tim passed away, she wrote, "Today is the day the Lord has called Tim Home. Nathan and I were with him. He slipped from our presence into the Lord's peacefully as we held his hands."

Along with his wife and son, Andrus leaves behind a sister, Natalie Larson of Elgin, and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Countryside Funeral Home, 950 S. Bartlett Road, Bartlett. A service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday at the Village Church of Bartlett, 601 W. Bartlett Road. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Tim and Linda Andrus fund at www.timandlinda.org.