Andrew Martin Strelec

Andrew Martin Strelec (Andy) of Schaumburg, IL, passed away peacefully at the age of 88, on July 31st. He is survived in life by his beautiful wife Patricia (Pat) of 60 years and his four daughters, Shannon Rokos (Mark), Stacey Dorow (Tom), Heather Mathew (Jay), Holly Lasher (Clint), and twelve grandchildren, who were all able to gather to be with him in his final days. He was very loved and will be deeply missed.
Andy's parents migrated from Slovakia and he was born on November 11, 1936 in Monessen, PA, the youngest of four (Mike and twins Alex and Alice). The family moved to the south side of Chicago where Andy grew up, and became the first in his family to attend and graduate college, earning an Engineering degree from Illinois Institute of Technology. He was active in the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and became a registered Structural Engineer.
An avid White Sox fan, he met Pat while working at Pioneer, an engineering company in downtown Chicago and began dating even after realizing she was a north-sider and Cubs fan. They married on Halloween, October 31, 1964 and eventually settled in Schaumburg in 1970 where he became active in the Schaumburg Jaycees making lifelong friends and worked the majority of his career at WEI in Elk Grove. The original "Girl Dad" he attended many Schaumburg Athletic Association and Schaumburg High School football games just to watch his cheerleader and poms daughters – sometimes having to bring a radio to keep up with the Bears game.
Andy had a heart attack in 1975 and has been able to defy modern medicine by always bouncing back from surgeries and various complications. During his frequent hospital stays, his doctors often used him as an example of a 'gold star patient' during grand rounds. He has bounced back more times than seemingly possible, but we are comforted knowing he is now able to rest in peace and eat as much salty food as he wants while washing it all down with his signature "rotgut" vodka martinis (although it has been quite awhile since he has been able to imbibe)!
Andy and Pat were both active at St. Matthew Church as Eucharistic ministers for many years. He was a devoted man of faith and we know he is in a better place.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 7th from 3:00PM - 8:00PM at Ahlgrim & Sons Funeral and Cremation Services LTD, 330 West Golf Road. Schaumburg, IL 60195
Memorial Mass will be held Friday, August 8, 2025, 10:00AM, at Holy Archangels Parish at St. Matthew Church, 1005 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg, IL 60194