Wayne Pinegar Andrus, 60, passed away on May 28, 2026, in Timpanogos Hospital in Orem, Utah. Wayne was born December 17, 1965, in Payson, Utah, the ninth child and seventh son of Elden and Lucille Andrus. Wayne grew up in a home filled with a love of music, a love of the gospel, and a love of sports. It is an understatement to say Wayne was athletic. He grew up swimming, wrestling and playing football, baseball, and basketball. In junior high and high school, he played many of these sports competitively. He was an avid (and often loud) viewer of sports, especially BYU football and the Utah Jazz games. Wayne played the cello in the Utah Valley Youth Orchestra. He had a firm and unwavering testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and served a mission for Tdhe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Hawaii, Honolulu Mission. He was active in church and served in many different capacities.

Wayne graduated from Spanish Fork High School in 1984. In 1990, he graduated from Utah Valley Community College with an A.S. in General Studies. He attended Southern Utah State College (now SUU), where he met his wife, Annette Buhler. They married in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on March 22, 1991. In June of 1991, Wayne graduated from Southern Utah University with a B.S. in Physical Education, and minors in Military Science and Biology. That same day, he was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army. After attending Officer Basic Course in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, Wayne returned to SUU to complete his teaching certificate in P.E. and Biology, graduating with a second B.S. in 1994. The following year, he earned his certification in Special Education from Utah State University. Wayne was a hard-working and dedicated teacher. He especially enjoyed teaching science. He loved reaching struggling students and getting them excited about learning. He assisted many of his students in mastering a subject, enabling them to take “regular ed” classes. He taught for 31 years in three states: Utah, California, and Wyoming. He also spent 3 years as Director of Special Education for Daggett School District.

Wayne proudly served in the Utah Army National Guard (Field Artillery). When he moved to California in 2001, he transferred to the California Army National Guard. He was the only captain who had three commands as a captain: Charlie Company of 2/222FA in Beaver, Utah; as commander over security at a California Army National Guard airport in Fresno California; then as commander over security at Beale AFB. He received many awards for his service. In 2012, he retired from the Army National Guard with 23 years of service.

Above all else, Wayne was a family man. He worked very hard to provide for his large family, balancing the demands of teaching with the responsibilities of National Guard service. He and his wife were the parents of six children: three “homemade” and three adopted from foster care. Wayne was a dedicated and loving father and grandfather, who was as at home with a small child sleeping on his lap as with debating scientific theory with his older children.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Denille Andrus and Diane Blackham, brother Ron, parents-in-law, 3 sisters-in-law, brother-in law, 3 nephews, and a niece. Survived by his wife of 35 years, Annette; his children: Tristan (Marilyn), Lark Earl (Jesse), Jordan, Bronwyn, Robert, and Serena, three grandchildren; his brothers: Doug (Marianne), Stansbury Park; Jake (Barbara), American Fork; Jon (Patricia), Pleasant Grove; Steve, Sparks, Nevada; and Boyd, Florida; brother-in-law David Blackham, Mt. Pleasant; many nieces and nephews.

There will be a viewing Sunday, June 7, from 4:00-6:00 at Walker-Sanderson Funeral Home, 646 East 800 North, Orem, Utah. On Monday, June 8, there will be a second viewing from 10:30-11:30 at Northridge Second Ward, 1875 North 280 West, Orem, Utah, followed by the funeral service at noon. Interment will take place at Orem City Cemetery.