Andrew Jackson "Andy" Amoroso

Andrew Jackson "Andy" Amoroso, age 74, of Burnsville, MN passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, October 24, 2025, with his loving wife Peggy at his side.
His surviving family includes his wife Peggy; two sons: Aaron & Kelsey of Denver, CO, and two Pharaoh Hounds Ember and Lamb; Ryan and Caitlin of Minnetonka, MN, and daughter Ruby; three siblings: brother Victor, Jr. & Faith of Dallas Center, and three children Victor III, Dominic and Rose; brother Marshall & Beverly of North Liberty, and two daughters, Jill & Molly; sister Marta of Mason City.
Born on October 21, 1951, in New Hampton, IA, to Victor and Margaret (Casey), he lived a fulfilling childhood in small town Iowa. Growing up in Lawler, IA, in the family house built by his father and grandfather in 1950, the Amoroso household was always lively and clamorous, including frequent home improvement projects, church events and a shared love of sports. Family played a seminal role in shaping his upbringing, which included Grandma Frances "Bossa" Amoroso and Grandpa Casey, where storytelling and laughter could often be heard over a big home-cooked meal.
Andy attended Turkey Valley Community High School in Jackson Junction, IA, emerging as a multi-sport star in baseball, football, and wrestling, graduating in 1969. He went on to study at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA, graduating in 1973 with a bachelor's degree in business.
Following college, Andy joined AmeriCorps VISTA serving time in California and Minnesota, eventually landing in Mankato, where he met the love of his life Peggy. He then entered the public sector with the federal government, moving to the Twin Cities where he began his long and productive career with the Federal Government in the Small Business Administration (SBA). Soon after, Andy was united in marriage to Peggy in Cambridge, MN in 1978.
Andy would go on to complete 43 years of service with the federal government, spanning several roles, finally retiring in 2017, as the Deputy District Director. He was fondly remembered and loved by his co-workers and the communities he was involved with, making lasting and impactful relationships over the years. He was a long-time member and contributor to the Minnesota Inventors Congress, a Small Business Development Center (SBDC) project officer, completed multiple disaster relief trips, and played an influential role in the SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives Association) program for over 30 years. Andy was in charge of the Small Business Week program for 20 years and he felt a sense of pride in the business owners he got to know. Andy was also a two-time recipient of the Civil Servant of the Year award (1992 & 2015), recognizing extraordinary service to the community and government, exemplifying his passion for those areas.
Andy was active in Burnsville youth sports, along with church and school activities at St. John the Baptist in Savage. He coached his son's teams in baseball, basketball, and soccer with the Burnsville Athletic Club (BAC). Although a fierce competitor, Andy routinely used sports as a way to impact and edify the youth, often instilling life lessons through competition. He made lasting relationships with players, parents, and friends alike, including his proclivity to give nicknames to most he interacted with. At St John the Baptist Catholic school and church in Savage, Andy helped organize the marathon and annual school fundraising festival.
As his kids got older, Andy loved following Ryan's basketball career, from Lake Conference championships and a state title game at the Target Center, to numerous road trips down to Milwaukee at Marquette University, and then at San Diego State. His love for sports included being a life-long New York sports fan, which was passed down from his father, where he could often be heard cheering for the Yankees and the G-men.
Andy took numerous trips out west to Colorado and Wyoming to visit Aaron, oftentimes finding himself in precarious adventures or working on home renovation projects. He loved outdoor yard work, landscaping, building decks or detailing a car. His favorite activity, however, was sitting outside with Peggy having a hot cup of 'joe' in the morning watching the bird feeder.
In his later years, always with community outreach skills and giving back at the forefront of his ethos, Andy was on the organizing committee for the Burnsville Fire Muster and parade.
Family was Andy's biggest passion, and he personified what it meant to be a loyal and devoted husband and father. He loved trips back home to Iowa, and heading up to the North Shore for the annual family cabin trip full of hiking, fishing, playing games, eating, and laughing. He enjoyed golf and had a love for biking, often seen on the Cannon River or Gitchi-Gami state trail taking in a beautiful day. He enjoyed gatherings with Peggy's family, June, Teresa and Kurt, including biking trips, birthday and holiday celebrations, campfires, and lake home activities. Andy was also an avid reader of the newspaper enjoying the business and sports sections, often commenting that he wasn't in the obit section yet.
Andy will be remembered for his kind heart, welcoming smile, soft-spokenness and slapstick humor.
Andy was preceded in death by his parents.
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, November 7, 11 AM at Mary, Mother of the Church, 3333 Cliff Rd E, Burnsville, MN. A gathering of family and friends will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. A reception will follow Mass in the church fellowship hall.