Mr. Howard Andrew (Andy) Schaad, Galesburg Chapel
89, formerly of 490 Soangetaha Road, Galesburg, IL died peacefully at 7:20 p.m. on Friday, July 9, 2010, at his home in Orland Park with his family by his side.
Born in Riverside, Iowa on August 31, 1920, he was the second child of Carl and Marguerite (Snell) Schaad. He is preceded in death by his parents; his two sisters, Beulah (Schaad) Lyanaugh and Carolyn (Schaad) Wheeler and his brother, Carlisle Schaad.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years, Rachel, and his seven children: Carl (Nancy) Schaad; Rosemary Madigan; Anthony (Margaret) Schaad; Richard (Beatrice) Schaad; Marguerite (Michael) Mercer; Johanna Liebetrau; and Gina (Russell) Merritt; sixteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; and countless nieces and nephews.
Born in Riverside, Iowa he moved with his family to Abingdon, Illinois in 1938; attended Abingdon High School and married Rachel (nee Mangieri) on January 1, 1942. Not waiting to be called into service, he left his job with the Abingdon telephone company and enlisted in the US Navy. He served as an aviation machinist and supported the US Navy’s dirigible (blimp) operations off the coast of Africa during WWII. He was honorably discharged from service in 1945.
Returning stateside, he immediately began working at an Abingdon factory making the bricks to be used in constructing the Harbor Lights restaurant owned by his brothers-in-law. He later provided for his growing family as an employee of Bell Telephone and then the Illinois Power and Light Company.
Endowed with a keen entrepreneurial spirit, he entered the field of sales through a position with New York Life Insurance. Later he found what was to become his life’s passion \” the field of electronics \” when he accepted a sales position with Fairchild Electric. In 1972, Andy and his family moved to St. Louis where he continued his work in electronics with the early micro-chip industry. He was very proud of the fact that his product was sold to a supplier of NASA and he made the acquaintance of Astronaut Gordon Cooper. He returned to Galesburg, Illinois in 1974 and founded Schaad & Associates, a micro-chip distributorship.
In 1989, he contracted with the state of Illinois as a Field Representative and Consultant in the Prairie State 2000 Authority program, assisting small businesses in grant-writing and training. He retired from this position in 2004.
The owner of a most creative mind, he was granted several patents during his career, and he continued every day until the end to explore the mysteries of the electronic/digital age. He was working on one more device at the time of his death.
Andy, as he was known to family and friends, was a large man, a kind and gentle man, an adventurer, explorer, creator. He had a beautiful singing voice and was a fierce Notre Dame “Fighting Irish” football fan. He is remembered for always smiling and pulling his myriad of grandchildren, nieces, and nephews into large bear hugs and patting their cheeks ‘til they begged for mercy.
We send him to the Lord with the heartfelt words he himself would always use to say good bye — “God Bless.”
Funeral mass will be Wednesday, July 14th, at 10:00 a.m. in Corpus Christi Church, 273 S. Prairie St., Galesburg, IL. Rev. William Miller and Rev. Francis Oman will concelebrate. Visitation will be Tuesday, July 13th, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Galesburg Chapel, where the Rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m. Burial will be in Abingdon Cemetery. Military Rites conducted by Harry E. Wiles American Legion Post #381. Memorial may be made to Rosminian Institute of Charity, Peoria, IL.
Andy, Thank you for the love you gave me. I feel very blessed to have known you. My memories of you will always bring me smiles. I love you, Margaret
Gina,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time. May you find peace in the many memories you hold close within your hearts.
Peggy
Our prayers and deepest sympathies are with you.All of our fondest love – Paula (Mike Mercers’ sister.) and Derek.–Steve,Greg,Mark,Eric and Kevin.
Tony,
So very sorry to learn about your Dad’s death. He sounds like a well-loved man! You and your family have my sympathy and prayers.
Gail Niehaus
gina, russ and family,
we are so very sorry for your loss. Andy was a gentle giant and would light up the room with his smile.
His kind words and his faith in his Lord surely have earned him a place in heaven. We too will miss him.
our sincerest sympathy.
Tony,
Your father must have been a wonderful person. I know you and your family will miss him but it sounded like he lived life to the fullest. My prayers for your loss.
Ondra Edds
Johanna and family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Lean on one another, and on your faith, as you celebrate the rich and full life of your father.
Tony & Family,
So sorry to hear of your father’s passing. What a blessed life he lived and I’m sure it eases some of the pain knowing that he is now with God. (Tony, you look just like him.) You & your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Tony and family,
I know what it feels like to lose your dad. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Gay Wilson – Hopkinsville
Rachel, my prayers go out to you and your family. You and Andy were great neighbors and my mom (Mary) always appreciated your friendship and I loved having your daughters as my “babysitters.”
Aunt Rachel and Family,
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. I remember those bear hugs at Grandmas!! That brought back a great memory! Please know I will keep you all in my prayers.
Nan (Mangieri) Johnson
I have so many memories that include all of you. Know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Tony,
You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Your Dad must have been a wonderful person and I know you will miss him.
I lost my Dad and truly understand, but also have the peace of knowing he in God’s hands.
Thinking of you at this time.
Brenda Lee
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this most difficult time.Sounds like your Dad enjoyed life to the fullest May you rest knowing he is now in God’s arms and is at rest.
Tony,
So sorry to learn of your father’s passing. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
My sincerest sympathy,
Beth Reynolds – Owensboro
Johanna,
I am very sorry to hear about the passing of your Father. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
With deepest sympathy,
Rita
To all the Schaad family,
I remember your Dad with such joy in my heart. You all are in my prayers. One of my best memories was trying to avoid him when I went to your house….he pinched my checks so hard that I would wither in paid. LOl !! If you tried to avoid him…he would find you. Gina and I would run up the back stairs to get away. LOL !!! Please know that although we have been apart, when I think of you guys, I think of family.
Love, Judy
Aunt Rachel and family,
I am so sorry to read of Uncle Andy’s passing. Please know that you are in my heart and prayers. May God’s love and the bountiful memories you share comfort you during this time.
Love,
Lori
I’d like to send sincere condolences to all the Schaad family from the Schenck family. You were wonderful neighbors through they years. We are so very sorry for your loss. I pray for strength for the coming days and for comfort and peace for all of you in the days and years to come.
Sincerely,
Jeanie (Schenck) Hanna & families
What a great family man he was as I remember as a child visiting the Schaad household. All of you take care and hold on to the memories. They are yours to keep and he will visit you in your dreams and often in your daily life. Believe me, I know from the loss of my Dad. Enjoy these times with him.