Andy Erickson, 56, of Shawano, lost his valiant battle with brain cancer on Wednesday, March 12, 2014. He was being cared for at the Birch Hill Health Care Center in Shawano.
He was born June 5, 1957, in Tigerton, the son of Dorothy and the late Carl Erickson.
On June 30, 1979, he was united in marriage to Pamela Schroder. The couple lived their entire married life in Shawano.
Andy attended the Bowler schools, graduating from Bowler High School in 1975. Following high school, he worked on a dairy farm in Gresham and Phoenix Doors for several years. Since then, he had been employed for 35 years at Little Rapids Corporation’s Shawano Specialty Paper Mill.
Andy loved sharing outdoor experiences with his children, brothers, nephews and friends, but most importantly he enjoyed playing with the light of his life for the last 3 ½ years, his granddaughter, Miakoda, whom he affectionately called Sweetie Pies. His children, Kate and Ryan meant the world to him. He was extremely proud of their accomplishments and the adults they have become. Andy was an avid outdoorsman and loved hunting, fishing, four wheeling, cutting wood, and just being outside in the woods and fresh air. The last months of his life he enjoyed watching the birds in his bird feeders and planning a vendetta against the squirrels that dared to raid the bird seed. Andy was an extremely hard working man. His commitment to his career at the Shawano Paper Mill was very important to him, but his love of family and friends were his true priority. He always had a smile and kind words for everyone he met. He will truly be missed.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Pamela, of Shawano; two children, Kate Erickson-Foth, of Grafton, and Ryan (Amanda) Erickson, of Shawano; one granddaughter, Miakoda Foth, of Grafton; his mother, Dorothy Erickson, of Shawano; siblings, Jean Behnke, of Wittenberg, Roger (Barbara) Erickson, of Shawano, Reuben Erickson, of Bowler, Charles (Karen) Erickson, of Milwaukee, Diane Cerveny, of Gresham, Karen (Donald) Wurth, of Gresham, Ralph (Cindy Pukall) Erickson, of Bowler; sister in-law, Janalee (Robert) Carstedt, of Milwaukee; sister in-law, Grace Erickson, of Kenosha; special nephews, Ronald (Jennifer) Wurth, of Appleton, Robert (Kristen) Wurth, of Wausau, Darrell (Nichole) Krueger, of Shawano. Andy is further survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.
Andy was preceded in death by his father, Carl; a sister, Helen; two brothers, Herbert Erickson, Gary Erickson; brother in-law, Michael Schroder; father- and mother in-law, Archie and Vera Schroder.
A celebration of the life of Andy Erickson will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 18, 2014, at Hope Community Church of Shawano. Pastor Randy Oss will officiate. Relatives and friends may gather at Hope Community Church on Monday, March 17, 2014, from 6-8 p.m. and at the church on Tuesday from 9 a.m. until the time of the service.
In lieu of flowers and plants, the family has requested memorials in his name.
Zastrow Funeral Services of Cecil is assisting the family with the service arrangements.
The family would like to thank Dr. Yao and the staff of Fox Valley Hematology Oncology of Appleton, Birch Hill Health Care Center and Heartland Hospice for the care that Andy received during his illness.