John L. Andel, 94, died December 26, 2024 at Mercy Allen Hospital following a short illness.

He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and was one of nine children in his family. He lived in North Olmsted, Brighton, Huntington, Amherst, and Wellington.

John was a 1947 graduate of Brighton High School, and later attended night classes for six years at Fenn College on the GI Bill of Rights studying Engineering.

He served two years in the U.S. Army during the Korean War with the 5th Combat Engineers from 1951 to 1953. He was stationed in Germany a little over one year.

He served a four-year apprenticeship at the Chevrolet Cleveland Parma plant graduating as a Journeyman Toolmaker and Journeyman Die Maker. He worked at the Parma plant until 1956 when he bought a farm in Huntington, moved his family there, and transferred to the General Motors Brown Life Chapin plant in Elyria. Shortly after his transfer, he pursued his Engineering career and retired as a Senior Manufacturing Engineer from the Elyria Fisher Body plant with 36 years of service.

He returned to farming part time from 1975 to 1986.

After retiring from General Motors, he opened his own Die Design company, Liberty Engineering, in downtown Wellington. He completed many Die Designs and also performed Consulting Services for several Northern Ohio Stamping plants, until retiring completely in 1999.

He loved Polka music and used to play his accordion every Sunday.

John was an avid fisherman and enjoyed fishing for walleye and perch on Lake Erie. He also went on annual fishing trips to Canada with long-time friends and many trips with family as well. He enjoyed hunting in Ohio, West Virginia, Texas, and Canada. He was skilled in gunsmithing and built several high-powered rifles for his personal hunting use. He was an active member of the LaGrange Hunt Club until his decline in health.

He designed the home that he and his wife had built in Wellington, where he lived until his death.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Marilyn (nee Willford); son Paul (Karen)  Andel, of Lagrange, daughters Gloria (Chuck) Litteral, of Deshler, Charlene (Rick) Rebman, of Lorain; step-sons, Mike Kimmel, of San Diego, Steve Kimmel, of Lorain; step-daughter Kathie (Russ) Hartman, of Litchfield; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and two great-step-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John S. Andel and Bessie (nee Wildman) Andel; sisters, Helen Andel, Ella Jallos, Rose Houlett, Claire DeBus, Betty Pettit, Mary Johnson, Nancy Robinson; brother Richard Andel; daughter Jeannette Bolivar; step-daughter Terri Titus and granddaughter Jennifer Rettig.

Friends may call from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, December 30th at Norton-Eastman Funeral Home, 370 S. Main Street, Wellington where Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. Rev. Hyeran Yu will officiate. Burial will follow at Brighton Cemetery with an honor guard ceremony.

Memorials may be made to the MS Society, 6133 Rockside Rd Suite 208, Independence, OH 44131 or the First United Methodist Church of Wellington, 127 Park Place. Expressions of sympathy can be given at www.norton-eastmanfuneralhome.com.