Andy passed away on December 16th, 2016 at Bastion Place, Salmon Arm at the age of 58 years. He was born on January 4th 1958 in Zurich, Switzerland as the son of dairy farmers Hans and Marie Zust. He grew up together with his brother Hans on the farm in Bachs, a little town out in the countryside north of Zurich. Six years of Elementary school in Bachs were followed by three years of “Sekundarschule” or High school in Stadel, another small town just a few kilometers away. He did his four-year apprenticeship as a mechanic at Swissair, then still a very reputable airline. During the following years he attended different schools and got several degrees in business administration, accounting, project management as well as information technology and also hotel management.
At the same time he pursued a military career starting with basic training in 1977 in the Swiss army tank force followed by corporal school. Further, he had the chance to attend advanced officer training ending in him being a captain and assistant of the commander of a mixed field division in western Switzerland.
Privately, after plenty of schools and no money left, he married Lisa on June 1st 1985.
Finally, the money situation got better in 1989 after he started being self-employed as a consultant in information technology, business administration, and business organization. He really liked teaching people how to work with certain computers and/or certain software as well as optimizing operation procedures in different companies.
Being busy and having no private life or spare time anymore, he and Lisa opted for a quieter life in Canada with more time for each other. On April 23rd 1998 they arrived in Canada and started a new adventure at the ViewPoint Motel in Salmon Arm. It turned out to be a bigger challenge than expected, as the business was way more run down than previously thought, and the buildings were literally falling apart! Well, that was just another test of his abilities. Roll up the sleeves and get it done! He and Lisa got it done! Years later the ViewPoint Motel not only received fresh paint, but substantial renovations and even new buildings.
The diagnosis of a brain tumor in June 2014 came like a sledgehammer blow to the face! You all know the fast but steady decline of him from there.
Andy will be sadly missed by his wife Lisa, family, and friends.
Special thanks go to Family Doctor Dr. Stacy Kirkman, Bastion Place nurses and staff, and Cancer Clinic Specialist Dr. Gregory Dueck in Kelowna for Andy’s excellent care.
A memorial service will be held at Fisher’s Funeral Services on January 4, 2017 at 2 p.m. Memorial donations in Andy’s name may be made to Bastion Place, Box 1990, Salmon Arm, BC, V1E 4P9.
Email condolences and share memories of Andy through his obituary at www.fischersfuneralservices.com.