Andrew Nicholas Lenahan's Obituary
Andrew Nicholas Lenahan, 18, of Savannah, Georgia, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, October 14, 2022. Andrew is survived by his parents, Jonathan and Tabitha Lenahan; his brother Gavin and his sister Irelyn; his grandparents, Joe and Sue Lenahan of Big Rapids, MI and Wanda Roark and Bradley Hutchison of Gary, IN; his great grandmothers, Shirley Fitzgerald of Big Rapids, MI, Harriet Lenahan of Reed City, MI and Lavena Roark of Gary, IN; many aunts, uncles and cousins from Michigan, Indiana, Utah, and Colorado as well as endless numbers of friends and co-workers from the many places he has lived, worked, and attended school as the son of his active-duty military father.
Those who knew Andrew will remember him for his generous and ready smile and his caring and compassionate soul. A previous employer said it well when she said she knew from the first handshake that he was her people, and that Andrew had never known a stranger; he treated everyone he met as though they had always been life-long friends.
Andrew loved the thrill and excitement of playing football and is a past member of a competitive paintball team in Alabama. He loved deer hunting with his family, camping trips with his parents and siblings, 4-wheeling with friends and family; spending summers with his Michigan and Indiana families and the close relationships he maintained with his cousins and, above all, always loving and seeking a life of close family connections, adventure and fun.
From a young age Andrew had an extraordinarily innate ability to feel and show compassion for others and had a need to understand the intricacies and mysteries of life and to live life to the fullest. Andrew always understood the value of hard work and honesty. If you needed something fixed, he could fix it. If you needed an honest opinion, he could give it. He also loved to cook and create with food, often stirring up specialties in the kitchen to share with family. He could serve up the best steak you'd ever eaten or the most amazing strawberry pie.
As soon as Andrew was old enough to seek out employment, he sought the type of work where he could help and serve others; equally important to him was making strong connections with his co-workers along the way. Andrew was extremely proud of his job as a lifeguard serving the families of Fort Rucker, Alabama. When his family moved to Savannah, Georgia he particularly enjoyed the relationships and connections he made while working at Cracker Barrel restaurant, and, most recently, serving the community of Harvey, Illinois while working as a chemical operator for U S. Ecology.
Andrew had dreams of continuing to serve on multiple levels, whether it be joining and training through a pipe-fitter's union or through military service by following in the footsteps of his father.
Andrew's family and anyone he knew will strive to seek comfort and strength through the strong memories they have of his endless love and energy, his contagiously fabulous smile, the "jokes for days!" and his infectious zeal for life.
Visitation will be held at Hillside Funeral Home, 8941 Kleinman Road, in Highland, Indiana from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 23rd.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 25th, 2022, at the Mohnke Funeral Home in Big Rapids, with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, cards for the family can be given to the family at either funeral home or sent to their home address: 38 Lakeview Drive, Savannah, GA, 31405. Share a memory or express condolences at mohnkefuneralhome.com.
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