Andrew Leslie "Andy" Martinez

Martinez, Andrew Leslie (Andy)
Died peacefully on Saturday, July 5, 2025, at 68 years old. Dedicated and loving husband for nearly 42 years to Allison (nee Mantey). Cherished and proud father of Karen Baumann, Phil (Kathryn) and Cynthia (Brent) Young. Adored grandfather of Colette, Berkley and Bodhi. Dear brother of Amy (Mike) Mullen, Becky, Joe (Mary), Ruth (Mark) Busalacchi and Pete. Further survived by aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, other family and countless friends. Preceded in death by his parents Rudy and Donna Martinez and Fritz and Rachel Mantey.
A proud South Sider, Andy was born in Milwaukee and raised in the Bay View neighborhood. He attended Bay View High School, graduating in 1974 before completing pre-pharmacy school at UW-Milwaukee and ultimately graduating from the UW-Madison School of Pharmacy in 1981. After school, he moved back to Milwaukee where he started his career as a pharmacist culminating in a 30+ year run at Walgreens, where he was loved by both customers and coworkers alike. During this time, he met the love of his life, Allison, on a blind date set up by friends. Marriage came in 1983 and was soon followed by a move to Greenfield, where Andy and Allison raised their three children while he served on the city's Board of Health for many years. After retiring in 2020, Andy spent his time with his wife, family and friends but he was particularly fond of the opportunity to spend more time with his grandchildren, often traveling three hours round trip multiple times a week to do so. In addition, his new passion for cycling led to many miles biked and new friendships made through his membership with the Bay View Bike Club, volunteering for Cycling Without Age and participating yearly in the Best Dam Bike Tour. Not one to take things easy, he also saw retirement as an opportunity to further nurture a lifelong passion for baseball by working as a gate screener for his favorite ball club, the Milwaukee Brewers.
Sports, in general, were a passion of his. From baseball, basketball and football to martial arts, cycling and dance, sports were a place to show his support while spectating or his "leave it all on the field" approach while playing. He loved the music of James Taylor as well as the movies that he spent countless hours watching and cataloging, including those from his favorite actor– Bruce Lee.
Andy did a lot and accomplished even more during his life. Every single aforementioned milestone came with a common theme–he made lifelong friends and connections wherever he went, and their lives were richer for it. Whether they met him as teenagers in high school or later in life in the cycling club, everyone loved Andy. As a father and grandfather, he was their greatest cheerleader and mentor. For other family and friends, he was funny, easy to talk to, had stories for days and he truly cared about the people in his life whether new or old. He was endlessly generous and would happily go out of his way to help out or do something nice for someone. He'd never view it as an inconvenience, because those acts of kindness and service are what were important to him. It's just the kind of guy he was.
Andy always closed his conversations with a simple "Take care," and it was obvious to anyone who met him that he didn't take that farewell lightly. He will be missed by many, but the stories of his kindness, generosity and friendship will carry on. He was truly one of a kind.
"We love you, Andy. Take care."
Visitation at Krause Funeral Home, 12401 West National Avenue, New Berlin, Wisconsin on Friday, July 18, 2025 from 4:00 PM – 6:45 PM followed by a service at 7:00 PM. Private inurnment at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Cudahy on Saturday, July 19, 2025.
In lieu of flowers, memorials/donations may be made to his team kelmann riding in the Bike MS: Best Dam Bike Tour WI 2025! or Cycling Without Age.