Andrew "Andy" Charles Rehbein Obit

ANDREW "ANDY" CHARLES REHBEIN, 78, of Deerwood, passed away peacefully at his home   with his loving family by his side after a courageous 10-month battle with pancreatic cancer.   Andy was born on Dec. 20, 1945 in Fort Riley, KS where his father was stationed at the time.  He grew up in St. Bonifacius and had many cousins who were among his closest friends in this small, closely-knit community. He loved going to St. Boni; he lit up whenever he was there, with memories of riding his bike up and down every street in the town, fishing in the St. Boni Creek, going squirrel hunting with his cousin Butch or having a good game of Sheepshead with family and friends.  He graduated from Waconia High School in 1963, served in the Marine Corps and then went on to court reporting school. He met his wife Georgia at the Paradise Ballroom in Waconia in 1969. They were married in 1970 and started to raise a family. Andy was a hard worker and good provider. He built silos for Bergman Silo in Maple Plain and then Rockite in Hutchinson for eight and one-half years,  all while playing bass guitar in the Faded Blue band at Hollywood Store in Mayer on weekends.  He then worked as an industrial engineer technician in Plymouth  and Elk River before moving up north in 1984 to be able to use his bass boat.  Up north, he worked construction, was a school bus driver, picture framer and an employee at Potlatch paper mill in Brainerd. After he retired from Potlatch he ran his own picture framing shop for several years from his home in Deerwood. He enjoyed the creativity and seeing the customers so happy when they picked up their framed art work or pictures. Andy had a fishing rod in his hand from ages two to 78. Going fishing was truly his ultimate favorite thing to do and he looked forward to the bass opener every year on Bay Lake. He taught his boys how to fish without the use of any fancy gear and would still break out an old cane pole from time to time.  It was hard for him to leave the lake; he had to be reminded sometimes that some people can’t be in an icehouse or on the boat for six hour stretches.   Andy had a vast understanding of nature and also had a knack for woodworking.  He could always tell you what kind of wood something was made from.  He loved to laugh and tell jokes.  He made sure he had a joke to tell his doctor every time he had a chemo treatment.  As sick as he was, Andy had a great sense of humor that he demonstrated to the very end. Andy was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Dorothy Rehbein, his son Charles, father-in-law and mother-in-law George and Josephine Bachinski and brother-in-law Gary Bachinski.  He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Georgia (nee Bachinski) Rehbein, sons and daughters-in-law  Adam and Melanie Rehbein  and Mason and Jessica Rehbein, granddaughter Malorie Rehbein, grandson Joshua Rehbein, sisters and brothers-on-law Marcia and Victor  Baert; Ann and Al Alward; his Aunt Ruth Boll;  brothers-in-law Ken Bachinski and Dan Bachinski; sisters-in-law Donna Heitz, Linda (Jim) Janovsky, Paula Bachinski, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Andy was creative, ingenious at solving problems, had the biggest and kindest heart anyone could ever have. He never spoke an ill word about anyone and was a very patient teacher. His neighbors loved him. He loved his kids, their wives, his grandkids and all his family with all his being.  He was the best husband, dad and grandpa anyone could ever have.  We will always remember his kindness, his grace, how much fun and what a talented artist and musician he was. He will be sorely missed. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Boniface Catholic Church in St. Bonifacius  on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 11 a.m. with visitation an hour before the Mass.  Internment in St. Boniface Cemetery. Arrangements with Koop Funeral Home in Crosby.