Andjelko "Andy" Marijan Saric

Born in the former Yugoslavia (now Croatia) to Marko and Terezija Saric, Andy’s life journey reflected a stubborn determination to build a better life for himself and his family. Perhaps that urge manifested itself at 12 years old, when he decided to try and escape post WWII Yugoslavia to come to America by jumping trains, inevitably ending with his apprehension and return from the Italian border.

After fulfilling military obligation, Andy studied Engineering at the University of Zagreb. Upon graduation and with job prospects hard to come by, Andy did what he needed to do to support his young family and found work as far away as Paris. His perseverance eventually led him to a tiny apartment on the north side of Chicago, where he was able to establish a new home and bring his young family from the old world to the new.

He found work as an electrician fixing old TV’s, stereos and toasters before moving on to work as a draftsman. He finally proved himself enough to get work in his studied profession as an Electrical Engineer. Andy built power plants as an Instrument and Control Engineer across the United States.

All that hard work paid off, allowing him and his wife to relocate their family to a burgeoning town in the nearby suburbs. A spacious house with a yard, a garden and enough bathrooms not to require a sign-up sheet. For more than 40 years, the house was simply referred to by all who lived there as “home,” regardless of where life ultimately took them. Whenever someone asked, “Will you be home for the Holiday?”, there was never any question where “home” was.

Andy enjoyed reading, studying languages, listening to all sorts of music, especially classical and swing. He loved taking his family to museums, zoos, parks, beaches, even the Lyric Opera in Chicago. He enrolled his children in 4-H and helped them with their projects. He loved dancing and would never shy away from a chance to twirl his lovely wife around a dancefloor. He looked forward to taking his family on yearly camping trips that involved entomology, hiking, swimming, canoeing and fishing, sometimes all at once! (his tendency to capsize was legend). He and his wife were fond of entertaining friends and family over the holidays and summer cookouts. None of these gatherings were complete until Andy broke out his accordion, to the delight of all.

He was an adoring husband who embodied the vow “in sickness and in health” being a pillar for his wife, as he nurtured and supported her through two major health issues before her untimely passing.

Andjelko was the devoted husband of the late Bernardica, a loving father to his five children: the late Jasminka (Michael), Davor, Lidija (Njegos), Miro (Kristine), and Vesna (Tom) as well as his grandchildren, Misko, Antonia (Jory), Ante, Anna, Katarina and Lily.

Andy was an accomplished man who lived life unapologetically. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

A viewing will be held on April 11, 2026, from 1:00-2:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Evanston, Illinois, followed by a Funeral Mass and Interment.