Andre, Colin J.

Colin J. Andre, 62, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, from an apparent heart attack. A funeral service to celebrate Colin's life will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, at the First Christian Church, 900 Lincolnshire Place, Coralville. The Rev. John McKinstry will officiate. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service, Iowa City, and after 2 p.m. Friday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Iowa City Noon Lions Club, Mercy Hospital Foundation for Diabetes Education or the American Heart Association.

Colin was born Sept. 30, 1948, in Burlington, Iowa, the son of Elmer and Genevieve Kelly Andre. He grew up in Burlington and graduated from Burlington High School in 1967. Colin married his high school sweetheart, Dana Stewart on July 26, 1969. To their 43 year union were born two children, Andrea and Derek.

Colin received his art degree from the University of Iowa and utilized his artistic skills as a jeweler in the Iowa City area for many years. Colin was well known for his custom jewelry creations and helped countless patrons celebrate weddings, anniversaries and all of life's most precious events over the years.

A registered member of the Lakota Sioux Tribe, his jewelry can be found in the Arlene Hirschfelder Collection (American Native Press Archive, University of Arkansas at Little Rock). When he wasn't at his jewelry store, Colin enjoyed playing guitar, photography and riding his motorcycle. He loved the open road and cherished the many road trips he took on his Harley-Davidson with Dana and their friends.

Colin was the grandfather of five and he truly enjoyed spending time with each of them and having his grandchildren help him behind his workbench at his jewelry store.

Colin was an active member in the Iowa City Noon Lions Club, HOG group and the Elks Club.

He will be forever remembered by his wife, Dana; daughter, Andrea (Mitch) Dotson and their children, Jordan, Michael, Jena and Wyatt; son, Derek (Josie) Andre and their daughter, Layla; his mother, Genevieve Breuer; sisters, Georgia Andre and Annette Breuer; brothers, Roger Andre and Craig (Denise) Breuer; in-laws, Marion and Barbara Stewart; sisters-in-law, Cynthia (Michael) Hoeningsburg and Lori Stewart (Todd Kirchner); and nieces and nephews, Merit, Landis, Tom, Vanessa, Erin, Nolan, Miles and Jared.

Colin was preceded in death by his father, Elmer; and his stepfather, Kenneth Breuer.

The seat on Colin's Harley will be empty as he takes his epic ride and he will be dearly missed by his family and friends.