Robert John Andres

Robert (Bob) John Andres, 88, died peacefully at home on January 6, 2025 after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Bob was born January 12, 1936, in Floyds Knobs, Indiana to the late Otto C. Andres, Sr. and Mabel C. (Fenwick Andres). He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Richard J. Andres Sr, Lucille Johnson, Otto “Bud” Andres, Jr., Mary Reynolds, Helen Andres and Wilbur Andres. He is survived by his loving wife, Janis Lynn Kneblik Andres, of 52 years, and his three children Monica Andres (Michael) Chatelier, Paul(Bethany)Andres and Robyn(Brent) Bormaster and his six grandchildren; Bennett and Braden Bormaster, Jacob and Mary(Mea) Elizabeth Andres, and Mason and Maxwell(Max) Chatelier.

He graduated from New Albany High School and earned his bachelor’s in engineering from the University of Louisville, KY. He served in the Indiana and the Missouri National Guard. Upon graduation, he worked as a salesman for Cutler Hammer for eleven years and transferred to Dallas in the early 60s. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to form his own company in the early 70s serving the construction and oil field industries. “Three times a charm” applied to Bob meeting Janis Lynn through his late roommate, Al Rabe. She turned him down the first two phone calls for a date. However, he decided he would try one last time and on the third phone call for a date, the rest became history as they married in 1972. He retired at 67 all the while building a family and pursuing other business ventures. After retiring, Bob’s servant heart led him to faithfully pursue outreach opportunities within the Catholic community at their beloved church, St. Monica. “I believe in God the Father Almighty” was the daily prayer Bob led his family in as he was a lifelong devoted Catholic rarely missing morning mass even when he was on the road. Bob assumed many roles both visible and behind the scenes. He delivered food weekly to the poor, to nuns, performed handy work at the nuns’ requests, functioned as an altar server, head usher, Founder of the Knights of Columbus Chapter at St. Monica, President of the Metro Serra Club, Steven Ministry for the sick, and served on the Board of Directors for Birth Choice. Outside of church, Bob enjoyed going with Janis to estate sales collecting clocks for each year of marriage, and Aladdin lamps, and eventually started collections of piggy banks and canes he thought he would never have to use himself. He and Janis also enjoyed sitting on the deck at their lake house, playing rummikub, and standing double dates with their best friends, Beth & Joe Patoski, over competitive pinochle games. While Bob was known by his siblings as “Bobby Baby” the youngest of seven children with curls, he was known as “Big Bad Bob” with his strong personality, roaring laugh, and herculean sneezes, yet was uniquely tender-hearted to those who knew him best-his family and his Catholic community of the “beans and rice” club. He even had a knack for matching up other couples and his successes have been confirmed from Indiana to Texas. However, his greatest success in life was his family. His life lesson passed on to his children was “Your integrity is your greatest worth” which has served his children well.

A rosary will be held on Thursday, January 16th at 10:30 am and mass of Christian burial at 11:00 am at St. Monica Catholic Church. A reception will follow at noon for the family to receive guests. A private family burial at Calvary Hill will follow the reception. Memorials may be made to the St. Monica School Endowment Trust. The family would like to express their appreciation to the caregivers that helped in his final days; Adriana, Tara, Shonya, Sussannah, and Tatiana and to the wonderful neighbors, friends, and parishioners who shepherded along the way.