Illinois Wesleyan football players held a prayer in Andrew Weishar's memory before practice on Friday at Tucci Stadium. Weishar died early Friday of colorectal cancer. (Photo by Zach Deitmeier/WJBC)

By Eric Stock

Illinois Wesleyan football players will be observing a moment of silence before their game on Saturday for a former teammate who lost a lengthy battle with cancer.

Andrew Weishar, 21, died early Friday morning at his home in Oak Forest.

Titan football coach Norm Eash said many of his senior players were at Andrew's bedside when he died.

Weisher was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the spring of 2010. The Brother Rice graduate played for the Titans his freshman year before he was diagnosed.

"(Andrew) was very team-minded, highly spirited, always had a smile on his face and was a great teammate," coach Norm Eash said.

Tentative plans are for a wake to be held from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 15 in the South Gym at Brother Rice High School, 10001 S. Pulaski Road Chicago, with a rosary to be said at 7 p.m.

A funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 16 at St. Damian Catholic Church, 5250 155th St., Oak Forest in the morning, likely 10 or 11 a.m.

There will be no classes at Brother Rice on Tuesday to allow students, faculty and staff to attend the funeral.

Eric Stock can be reached at eric.stock@cumulus.com.