Michael George Andre

In Loving Memory of Michael George Andre

With faith in Christ and the hope of the resurrection, the family of Michael George Andre announces with deep sorrow his passing on Monday, May 19, 2025 after a brief illness at the age of 85.

Michael was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 13, 1939 to Clementine and Chester Andrzejczak. He grew up in a loving Catholic family with nine siblings. Michael started working at a very young age and was able to put himself through college. He was the first in his family to attend and earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

During college, Michael met the love of his life, Joyce Marie Maturi, and they married in 1961 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Chisholm, Minnesota. He and Joyce started their family in Milwaukee and then shortly thereafter moved to the Chicago area. They ended up making their home in Palatine, Illinois, where they raised their beautiful family of four children.

Michael began an accomplished career in the Chicago area working in the electronics industry, where he rose to Senior Executive Vice President at Methode Electronics. In addition to managing facilities in the United States, he ran operations in both Europe and Asia. He also was elected to Methode’s Board of Directors at the age of 45 years old and was granted several patents for innovations in the industry. After a successful 32 year career, he retired from Methode in 2001.

Although Michael had significant achievements in his career, he was most proud of his loving marriage to Joyce, raising their children in a Catholic home, and his dedication to his extended family as the patriarch. He was known by all to be a caring and generous man of the highest integrity, extremely industrious and hard-working, as well as intelligent and wise.

Michael and Joyce enjoyed traveling the world together and eventually made their home in Oro Valley, Arizona, where they have lived for more than 20 years. Michael enjoyed golfing several days a week, following the stock market, and took pride in doing his own desert landscaping, even months before his passing. He loved to sit on his patio and enjoy the scenic Catalina Mountains with a glass of Cabernet.

Michael is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Joyce Marie Andre, children Brant (Donna) Andre, Denise (James) Jones, Marc (Mary) Andre, and Michele (Craig) Houser. He leaves behind thirteen grandchildren: Michael (Meghan) Andre; Connor, Kelly, Sean, and Erin Jones; Ryan (Ana), Austin (Kendra), Skylar, and Tanner Andre; and Britt, Alex, Cole, and Chase Houser; and great grandchildren, Weston, Madelyn, and baby Ace, whom he met the week before his passing. Michael is also survived by siblings Bonnie Ottman, Kathy (Chuck) Busalacchi, Judy Andrzejczak, Bill Andrzejczak, Sue (Patrick) Murphy, Patricia Multari, Cindy (Tony) Arena and many loved nieces and nephews.

Mike was preceded in death by both his and Joyce’s parents (Bertha and Mario Maturi) as well as siblings and in-laws: Joan Andrzejczak, Chet and Peggy Andre, Roger Ottman, and Helen Andrzejczak.

A Catholic Funeral Mass will be celebrated on June 6, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Libertyville, Illinois. Visitation will begin in the narthex at 9:30 a.m. prior to the mass.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Michael’s memory to his favorite charity, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, at Santa Catalina Catholic Church in Tucson, Arizona.

Scroll down for the link to the donation website.