Andrew Riedel

United States World War II Naval Veteran Andrew (Andy) Joseph Riedel, age 91, passed from this earthly life to eternal life at home on November 2, 2015 after an extended illness.

Andy was born in St. Peter, Kansas on March 21, 1924, the youngest son of John A. Riedel and Eva Linenberger. He is survived by his loving wife, Rita (Clark) Riedel, his children Francis (Frank) and his wife Norma Jane, James (Jim), Mary Sogan and son-in-law George, Brenda Pearl and one sister, Cecilia McWhirt. Blessed with 7 grandchildren, Christina Pierce (Tim), John Riedel, Mark Hoffman (Kristine), Tom Riedel (Cathy), Sam Alan Riedel (Jessica), Phillip Riedel (Jillianne), and Sam Andrew Riedel, 15 great-grandchildren, David Alan Anderson (Kayli Bartlett), Timothy James Wylie (Rachel), Shelby Hoffman, Dylan Hoffman, Donna Jones, Shaylee Hoffman, Victoria Pierce, Jeanette Pierce, Anton Pierce, Rebecca Riedel, Tyler (Cash) Riedel, Laney Riedel, Erin Riedel, Francis Riedel, Konner Riedel, and 6 great-great grandchildren, Cole Brady Anderson, Sophia Anderson, Natalie Anderson, Madeline (Maddie) Wylie, Lydia Rose Hoffman and Damien Micheal Anderson. He also is survived by many nieces, nephews, great, great-great, and great-great-great neices and nephews.

Andy lived in St. Peter, KS until he moved to Denver, where he met and married Catherine M. Steinbach (deceased) whom he married in 1942. He spent 4 years in the U.S. Navy, then returned to Denver to live. On September 26, 1980 he married Rita (Clark) Pearl who cared for him so lovingly in their home throughout his illness.

Andy was a Jack of all trades. He worked for Cobusco, Stark Lumber, and DENSCO, until he began his own business in Denver in the early 1960's. Dental Equipment Service Company began with him repairing handpieces in the basement of his home. His business grew and was renamed Riedel Dental Manufacturing Company, which manufactured, sold, repaired and maintained dental equipment and supplies. He sold the company to his youngest son, Jim and his two nephews, Andrew and John Riedel. He then moved on to start an automobile body repair shop with Rita. He could fix about anything, and beginning with the very first home he owned he enjoyed remodelling. So, his final business was Handyman Odd Jobs, which his son, Jim still runs, and in which his daughter Mary worked for several years.

He loved working with wood in his shop behind his home in Littleton. After retirement he creating the wooden "shadow figures" which have been displayed on the fence surrounding their Littleton home for many years. They have been seen by probably millions who have travelled South Wadworth Blvd, and in a Channel 9NEWS news story, aired on Veteran's Day 2005, honoring Andy.

He and Rita have been members of Faith Community Church, next door to their home, for almost 30 years, where both have served the congregation collectively and personally in many capacities. They have participated in many of FCC's outreach and every mission trips including New Mexico, South Dakota, and Mexico. They also spent 3 months doing missionary work in Appalacia. After retirement, if he wasn't doing something around his own home, you would find him mowing the lawn, repairing, building or maintaing something or whatever else needed done 99% of his days at FCC until he became ill in August of 2014.

Most would say, love of his family and friends, his strong faith, work ethic, generosity in serving others, and of course, his sense of humor were his greatest qualities.

Memorial Service, Friday, November 13, 2015, 10:30am at Faith Community Church, 6228 South Carr Court, Littleton, CO 80123