Harold D. Andrea
Loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, brother, and dear friend, Harold D. Andrea, passed away peacefully at home on March 26, 2023, just shy of his 84th birthday. He was born May 21,1939 in Great Bend, Kansas to parents Virgil and Marjorie Andrea. The family relocated to Quincy when Harold was three years old and he never lived anywhere else. Harold has one older brother, Edward, and had a younger brother, Fred, who was tragically lost during his Senior year of high school.
Harold graduated from Quincy Jr-Sr High School in 1957 and worked on the Forest Service fire crew before attending automotive diesel school. Harold met his wife of 63 years, Kathy Downing, during high school. They began dating during Kathy’s senior year and continued after she graduated from QHS in 1959. The couple married in 1960 and moved around briefly before settling in Quincy to raise their family. Their first two children, Steve and Sue, were born in Southern California, followed shortly by Shari and Larry in Quincy. Harold was an active member of the Laborers Union, local 185 for 58 years.
The Andrea household included so many great friends and extended family. Everyone was welcome and made to feel like they belonged. Harold worked every week far from home, so weekends were busy from sun up to sun down. There were vehicles and toys to keep running, appliances that needed attention, and a house to repair. Harold handled it all and taught his kids to help along the way. He worked more than he played, but still found for a heck of a lot of fun. He knew the best swimming holes, was a regular on Bucks Lake’s Ski Beach boating and teaching countless family and friends to ski. He fished when he could, camped more than he probably wanted to, and hunted every year to put meat in the freezer. He was an avid reader, card player, horseshoe thrower, and an incredible cribbage player. Harold belonged to and enjoyed many events and gatherings of the Elks Lodge, Jeep Posse, and E Clampus Vitus.
During his retirement years, he and Kathy enjoyed traveling to some incredible locations; sometimes with friends and sometimes alone, sometimes with snowmobiles and some times just to see the sites. They visited Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, Tetons and Jackson Hole, Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial, Death Valley, Crater Lake and Diamond Lake. Twice they cruised to Alaska and visited Denali National Park, flew to Sitka, and fished for halibut and salmon to put in the freezer.
The large, loving family that Harold started with his beloved wife, Kathy, includes their four children, Steve Andrea (Quincy), Sue Andrea Dunlap (Gridley), Shari and son-in-law Steve Drybread (Quincy), Larry and daughter-in-law Kathy (El Dorado Hills). He adored and loved twelve grandchildren: Krystal Drybread, Stephanie Andrea (Granger), Kayla Drybread (Jansen), Blake Dunlap, Amanda Andrea (Divers), Travis Dunlap, Michael Andrea, Katy Drybread, Jacob Dunlap, Emily Andrea, Ty Dunlap, Melissa Andrea. And then more to love came from eleven great-grandkids: Riley Granger, Mason Divers, Lucas Miller Drybread, Logan Granger, Payton Divers, Jett Jansen, Rylie Dunlap, Taya Jansen, Ryland Maguin, Davis Dunlap, and one more great-grandson due in July.
Harold leaves an indelible legacy in the number of family that traces back to him and inherited many of his best traits. It also includes the ones that counted him as family, and they are too many to list; there are best friends of his kids and the kids they had, countless nieces and nephews who adored him, extended family who loved him dearly, and the great friends who treasured his company. The gifts of his legacy will enrich generations to come and leave lasting memories for his loved ones.
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves memories no one can steal. Thanks for all the love you shared and memories you created.
Services will be held on Friday, April 21st at Blair Mortuary with a reception to follow at the Elks Lodge from 1pm – 4pm.