Andy P. Hansen
Andy P. Hansen
LEVERING, MI – Andy P. Hansen, 64, died of cancer at his home in Levering, Michigan on Saturday September 28, 2019. At the end, he was with his loving partner Deb Palcowski and in his last days he had seen all of his siblings, his two daughters and two grandchildren, and some of his best friends.
Andy was born December 1, 1954 in the Manistique, Michigan hospital but his first home was in Grand Marais. He lived in Grand Marais for only two years, but that little fishing village on the shore of Lake Superior holds some of his fondest memories. He loved driving the Adams Trail, swimming at Twelve Mile Beach and climbing Grand Sable dunes, all in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. He made it back to Grand Marais one last time, a week before he died.
Most of Andy’s life was spent in Marquette. As a child, he spent much time in the outdoors, catching lake trout and salmon on Lake Superior and always having one of the best gardens around. He graduated from Marquette Senior High School in 1972 and attended Northern Michigan University for two years. Andy was a natural entrepreneur and salesman; while he did short stints working for others, he was really meant to be his own boss. He invested in real estate in the Marquette area and also started and ran UP Appliances and Wood Stoves on Washington Street in Marquette for many years. Many homes in the Marquette area have a wood stove or jacuzzi that was sold and installed by Andy.
With his late brother Dave, he fished commercially for sockeye salmon in Bristol Bay, Alaska. Andy loved boats and in the summer would often spend nights sleeping on his cabin cruiser in Marquette harbor. He had a commercial captain’s license.
He loved cooking, especially grilling, and in later years would sit in his favorite chair in his yard, tending to his charcoal grill. He had a huge sense of humor, could entertain a crowd and got along with everyone. His nieces and nephews had tremendous fun listening to his stories and hearing his take on world affairs.
Andy was preceded in death by his father Martin J. Hansen, stepfather George P. Whitfield, and two older brothers Mike and Dave.
He is survived by his partner Deb Palcowski (Alanson, MI); his mother Laila Whitfield (Gladstone); two daughters, Lisa (Traverse City) and Emily (Sault Ste. Marie); two grandchildren Alex and Callie; one brother, Bob (Hanover, NH); four step-siblings Stacy (Ypsilanti), Lantz (Marquette), Stephanie (Lachine, MI)and Kevin (Baltimore, MD); and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
The family plans a memorial service for Andy in Grand Marais in July, 2020 at the time of their annual family reunion.