Obituary of Andrew Thomas Hass Jr.

Andrew (Andy) T. Hass, Jr. died with grace and ease on January 25, 2018, with the love of his life and close friends at his side in Kalamazoo, MI.  He was 68.

Andy is survived by his life partner and best friend Donna McKenna, brothers Alan (Barbara), Steve (Holly), and sister Diane Howard. (Mark) of Grand Haven, Bruce (Debbie), of Spring Lake and Dan (Patti) of Florida. He was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew T and Arlene Ione (VanHall) Hass, and infant brother Michael.

Andy was born on October 27, 1949 in Grand Haven, MI  He graduated from Grand Haven High School in 1968, and Muskegon Community College in 1971 with an Associate’s Degree in Electronics. He studied electronics engineering at Western Michigan University, and graduated in 1980 from Kalamazoo Valley Community College with a focus on HVAC, Alternative Energies, and Electrical Technologies. Andy also taught in the building tradesprogram at KVCC.

He met his life partner Donna McKenna in 1975 and moved to Kalamazoo in 1977 where they made their home.  

In his early years Andy was a newspaper boy which started hisamazing lifelong work ethic. He was the always-smiling employeeat The Grand Theater, Johnson’s Grocery and Holiday Inn in GrandHaven.  He worked at Alpha Energies in Kalamazoo and Pioneer Service Systems in Cassopolis in the alternative energy field, and West Main Mall as the Maintenance Supervisor.  He also owned his own computer consulting and repair business, Advanced Technologies, in Kalamazoo.  Senior citizens were his specialty because he had infinite patience and a calm manner while teaching new technology.

He was a very spiritual man and explored and practiced a variety of energy healing, including The Yuen Method, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Matrix Energetics, and anyone who ever received an energy blessing from Andy will remember it fondly. He helped a lot of people with his intuitive gifts while working with his dear friend Dottie Gambee for the last 5 years.

Andy followed Donna into the realm of the Renaissance Faires, and volunteered at Silver Leaf Renaissance Festival near Kalamazoo in the late 90s and early 2000s, acting as site coordinator and eventually Co-Executive Director.  He and his cohort Karl Hansen took great pride in its success, doubling the event’s attendance. He later founded Mayfaire in Marshall and Derbyshire in Muskegon. Mayfaire enchanted patrons for 11 years, and Andy had a unique way of making friends and pulling together a diverse group of volunteers and staff. He consulted on many special events including Northwoods in Interlochen, Michiana in Mishawaka, IN, and Magical Realm in Marshall. 

Asked what he was most proud of in his life, he said his high school counselor told him the best he could ever do was to push a broom in a factory.  His many accomplishments stand as a testament to his determination, compassion and innate intelligence, despite serious dyslexia.

Andy could fix anything.  He and his family built the house that he and Donna shared for over 35 years.  He also helped build 16 otherhomes and assisted countless others with remodeling projects using his special skills in electrical work. Andy also volunteered at Cooper’s Glen Music Festival and was involved with the YMCA Active Older Adults program, serving on advisory committees andadvocating for seniors while injecting his sense of humor into fitness classes and outings.

Among his other interests were lawn and garden tractors, and he attended the Michigan Flywheelers Annual Tractor Show for over 20 years with his friend Ken Rakoski.  He was also an avid science fiction buff.

Andy was an amazing force on this earth and an incredible, dependable friend to many.  Those who knew him best described him as a gentle giant of a man with a huge heart, always willing to give of himself to help others. He was genuine and without pretense, a collector of people and things and varied interests: aseeker, a mystic, a shaman, a true Renaissance man.

Cremation has taken place and a gathering to celebrate Andy’s life will be held Sunday, February 4 from 1-4pm at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Grand Haven, for family and close friends.  For his Renaissance friends a memorial will be held at The Magical Realm Fantasy Faire in Marshall, MI on June 2—more details will be provided on their Facebook page. In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation can be made to Kalamazoo Maple Street YMCA, ATTN: Shashu Baraka, 1001 W. Maple Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49008.  Please specify theActive Older Adults Program. Unfortunately the electronic link to the YMCA does not afford the option of donations to the Active Older Adults Program.

Condolences and photos can be left at whitleymemorialfuneralhome.com.