I only recently learned of Mike's passing and wanted to share my thoughts on what a blessing it was to have him in my life.

Mike was a gentle giant unless of course he was standing next to Doug. In my memories of him leading our youth group, he was always providing comic relief to our group and often beside either Vicki or Jim.  I always looked up to Mike as inspiration on the kind of man I always wanted to be as my father was not really present in my own life.

I will never forget the trip through Minnesota into Canada, his jokes/humor, his dedication to us budding kids, he and Vicki loaning me money so I could go to camp, his flipping house venture, those biceps and his dedication to God and family.

I definitely noticed a decline in society since his passing. :P

My prayers for Vicki and the family. 

Glenn Fawley

Just heard of Mike’s passing. So sorry for your Loss, Thoughts and Prayers to you and your family. I was fortunate to work with Mike a number of years.  Ryan & Cheryl Plautz

My deepest condolences to the entire Andrews family. I worked with Mike for a few years when we were both at Werner Electric Supply and really enjoyed and respected him. I so vividly remember his incredible temperament, humble heart and great sense of humor. For example, the first time I shook his hand I had this thought rush through my head, and I probably shared this with him, that it was the closest thing I’ve ever experienced to touching the paw 🐾 of a very unexpectedly kind, loving and even approachable grizzly or perhaps even a polar bear! 🐻‍❄️ He smirked and let out a little chuckle:) Little did I know at the time and until now, that we were brothers in Christ!!! Mike was a great and wonderful man and will truly be missed. I am so very sorry for your incredible loss and will be lifting your family up in prayer for strength and healing ❤️‍🩹. I cannot wait to see him again when God calls me home:)

Vicki and the entire Andrews family,

Sincere condolence from our family to yours.  I am in shock that Mike is gone but know that Mike is resting in the arms of our Lord and Savior.  We stayed in touch after the years of working together and will miss the great conversations.   I am grateful to have worked with Mike and blessed to call him a fiend and mentor to me.  Rest in Peace Mike! 

My mind has been full of thoughts and wonderful memories of Mike the past  few weeks. I still can not wrap my head around the fact that he us goneand no more memories will be made with him. Mike was so full of life and such a fun guy to be with. Heaven's gain is our heartbreaking loss for sure. So now we cling to all we have in our memories that will hold Mike close to us until we are with him once again. I'm sure any stories that could be shared with Mike's precious family would be welcome as it helps his family to have more connections of how Mike has been such a beautuful and influential part of our lives. I would like to share a story that means the world to me about Mike. When I went out on my first date with Rich, we went to see a documentary called, "In search of Noah's Ark". When we were walking out of the theater we ran into Mike and Vic, who were sitting 2 rows behind us. I still don't believe it was a coincidence. We ended up having Mike and Vic join us for dinner at the Ground Round which seemed to set the precedence for Rich and I for future date nights. So yes, the four of us spent a lot of time together. I got to know Mike very well and knew what kind of guy he truly was so when Rich and I were expecting our first child, Rich told me, if it is a boy we are naming him Mike after my two best friends named Mike. Mike Anderson was Rich's oldest childhood and church friend and Mike and Andrews was his friend from freshmen year of high school and became a beloved part of the Salem youth group and our very dear friend.  Thinking of naming our precious son after the two guys that had the biggest impact on Rich and then my friendship with Mike Andrews was a no brainer. We loved and admired Mike for so many reasons and would be overjoyed if our little Mike would grow up to have any of the awesome qualities and characteristics that Mike posessed. Some qualities that were very apparent were the fact that Mike was easily a fantastic athelete, all around, he excelled at everything he played. He was such a strong guy but never had a big head about it. He was always very humble. Mike had the best sense of humor and absolutely had the quickest wit of anyone we ever knew.  Mike was so fun and up for a challenge. He was a guys kind of guy but always treated the girls with so much respect. Mike had such a great work ethic,  never backed down and was a team player. He had a kind heart was willing to step in and make a difference as he and Vic were teen sponsors in the high teen youth group  and Mike was a leader to the  Boys Brigade at church.  Mike was honest, true to himself and an example of a beautuful Christian man who loved the Lord. Mike was a loyal friend and was always open for conversations about anything and everything.  He had lots of head knowlege  and always walked away from life with tried and true experiences. It was so easy to engage in a conversation with Mike that went on 2 to 3 hours.  Was was a listening ear and an open heart who cared,  shared and loved. His crooked smile and his deep laugh were contagious and oh what I wouldn't give to experience that again. Mike was so loved, so admired and I know we made such a good choice, the  perfect namesake for our precious son. To say we are heartbroken is a gross misunderstatement regarding Mike's passing. But, we are not left hopeless or doubt that God has purpose in taking Mike back home. So now we cling to God our Lord and Savior and trust His word and all His promises to walk us through these dark days. He will lift us up on the hard times and we will glorify Him, always giving thanks for the beautiful blessing of Mike and that he was given to us to make a  beautiful difference in all our lives. God is good and Mike was our sweet, sweet joy. 

I first met Mike in 1970 – he was in my high school gym class, and we were outside playing flag football. He was the quarterback on my team, and I could not believe for such a skinny, underdeveloped kid he had an arm like a pro quarterback. He could throw the ball a country mile. Fast forward a couple years and now Mike is over 6 feet tall and muscular. He was playing running back for the high school varsity team and through this he met Mike Anderson who invited him out to our church youth group. We all got to know Mike and I will always remember the day that church was over and some of us guys were down in the Fellowship Hall by the coat racks and in walks Paster Shearer and Mike. Paster Shearer says to us to “Wish Mike a Happy Birthday”. Mike had just accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. What an exciting day for all of us! Over the years we grew close and if Mike wasn’t with Vicki, he was with me. Playing tennis, racquetball, water skiing, 16” softball, and of course basketball. Mike could play any sport he wanted, and he excelled in it. He was a natural athlete. In 1978 I was best man in his wedding, and he was my best man. In 1981 I went to work at Eberling Alarm where Mike was the GM for the Phone and Alarm divisions of the company. I saw him every day, and we had plenty of laughs. One time I was working in Cicero, and I got a text (pre cell phone) to call the office. I found a pay phone and called – Mike picked it up and told me to get back to the office asap as Ron the owner was fuming mad and wanted to speak to me. I rushed back to the office to find out that Ron was not mad at me at all. I go to the 2nd floor where our offices were, and Mike is laughing hysterically. He pulled a fast one on me. Family and life got in the way of our friendship for quite a while but when Mike was commuting from Wausau to Minneapolis, he would call me once or twice a week and we would talk for a couple of hours each time. I cherish the times we were together and those weekly phone calls. I’m so thankful that Mike knew the Lord and that he will be waiting for us when we arrive in heaven someday. Mike was one of my best friends and I have so many great memories with him that I will hold onto during this terribly tough time. Mike fought the good fight and is now enjoying his eternal reward. I pray that the Lord will give peace to Vicki and her family and that they will feel Gods loving arms wrapping around them and that they will have peace knowing Mike is enjoying seeing his Lord face to face. God bless you all.