Andrew John Macchia

Andrew J Macchia Sr., 91, of Wauconda, IL, died surrounded by his loving wife and family on

February 2, 2026. He was born in the city of Chicago to Giovanni (John) and Rose (Gentile)

Macchia on May 30, 1934.

Andrew's accomplishments provided opportunity and a better life to those he loved, including

family, friends and neighbors. His career started at a Jewel food store, where he met the love of

his life, Lois (Richter) Macchia who survives. On a friend's recommendation he got his start in

the printing industry at Shawk Graphics where he became a craftsman in no time. In everything

he did, for the most part, he let his creative talents lead his way. After a number of years he

went to a competitor and soon got into sales. With his outgoing personality and extraordinary

work ethic, he opened doors to clients like Crate and Barrel, Playskool, and Sara Lee, becoming

very successful in sales.

Andrew was a creative genius. He could do anything and do it well! With love and support from

Lois, he helped raise 5 children and worked a job. When not at work, he built from the ground

up 5 homes including drawing plans and getting them approved by building departments.

Though this was just a hobby for him, he gutted 3 more homes to rebuild and sell while living in

those homes, often recruiting family and friends to help. He was a wood worker carving ducks

and a carousel horse. He built his first speed boat and a catamaran. He was a hunter, a

fisherman and a master of landscape.

Andrew and Lois were married for 73 years. He was a loving husband and credited his wife with

saving his life. Andrew and Lois welcomed each new generation of family. By the time he was

retired, he was helping with cooking dinner - he was great with homemade pizzas and making

giardiniera following a recipe passed down to him by his parents. This was a man who didn't

finish high school but lived the saying "where there's will, there's a way." And he found it, every

time! His strong work ethic, curiosity, verve for life, love of family, acts of service and honoring

those he loved are part of his legacy.

He is survived by his wife Lois (Richter) Macchia; his 5 children Susan Fowles (Michael),

Andrew J Macchia Jr (Irene), Elizabeth Baldwin (Michael), Kathleen Simmons (Scott) and

Michele Jessup; 9 grand children Erin Nielsen (Anthony), Sarah Fowles, Lauren Solberg (Brian),

Andrew W Macchia (Kalyn), Ross Hirz, Jeffrey Hirz (Katie), Kristian Simmons (Stacy), Nicholas

Simmons (Esmeralda), Wiley Jessup; 14 great grandchildren Kaiden and Hadley Nielsen, Julia,

Lillian and Charlotte Solberg, Andrew and Madison Macchia, Kenzie Effrig, Lilian, Geneva and

Orion Hirz, Fletcher, Parker and Phoebe Simmons; brother and sisters in law Charlotte (Dyson)

Richter, Marilyn (Richter) and Ed Bakka; long time friends Theresa and Raymond Elzer; and

many nieces, nephews and cousins who remember him fondly. Andrew was preceded in death

by his parents John and Rose (Gentile) Macchia, his mother and father in law Madeline (Gorski)

Doll and Harold Doll, brother in law Ronald Richter, his great granddaughter Madeline Simmons.

Services will be Sunday, February 15th, 2026 at Kisselburg-Wauconda Funeral Home, 235 N

Main St, Wauconda, IL 60084. Visitation from 12:00 Noon until the time of the memorial service at 2:00 PM. Inurnment will follow on Monday, February 16, at 10:45 AM in Transfiguration Catholic Cemetery, Wauconda.