Gone from our sight, but never our hearts
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ANDY AND HIS SISTER LISA, ON HER WEDDING DAY
On May 25, 1991, our Lisa married Marty Niklas in a beautiful outdoor ceremony. Lisa bought the guys all purple hats to wear, which made Andy very happy. He didn't go anywhere without a Hat! I don't know who had more fun at the reception, him or her. He didn't want it to end. He loved to party and have fun! When he threw a party the people would come out of the woodwork. He'd hire a Karaoke group, and he and his cousin, Russ, would have a ball singing. Their theme song was, American Pie. He loved country music and the '60's Oldies. Andy, Marty, and Russie. This was Andy's idea of dressing up in a suit. A heart of gold stopped beating, two smiling eyes at rest |
ANDY LOVED HIS NEPHEWS
Andy with his "Little Buggars,"his nickname for Martin John, then 4 yrs. old, Jack Andrew, 2 yrs., and Rian Joseph, 1 week old. He brought autographed hats for Marty and Jack, and a jacket for Rian. Every race he attended, he brought home new shirts for the boys. He was truly a special Uncle. He would take them down to the farm and give them rides on the tractors, and let them run through the barn. He bought Marty his first set of wheels, a Big Jake dump truck, on his 1st Christmas. Big Foot came along the following year. He dearly loved those little guys. He would have made a wonderful Daddy. |
ANDY LOVED HIS NEPHEWS
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Such a proud moment, standing with our son at the arrival of The Wall. In July of 1997 our town brought the Vietnam "Moving Wall" to Kane. Andy was my biggest supporter, selling many T-Shirts to help raise money. He also made the Flag stand that sat so proudly at the apex of the Wall. After Andy died we received a beautiful letter from John Devitt, Chairman of the Memorial Fund. It reads in part:
"When Tim (the guardian of The Moving Wall) explained how much Andy had done for the Wall's visit, and his pride in being able to be a part of what was happening in the community, I knew that all Kane lost someone very special. But I think, or hope, we can take some comfort in the knowledge that Andy became known to the 58,209 brothers and sisters on the Wall while the Wall was in Kane, and because he showed exactly who he was, there are the spirits of our 58,209 brothers and sisters who now have him in the comfort of their wings...I hope that the heavy sadness somehow lightens, allowing you to think of the happiness Andy's life brought into yours and those who knew him, rather than the sadness at his leaving."