Raymond Andres

A selfless leader and shining light in his community, Raymond Andres truly understood the secret to a life well lived. He was a constant source of strength, even in the most difficult of times, and he found great contentment in the simple joys of life. There was nothing that made Ray happier than being surrounded by his family and friends. Though he was a quieter man by nature, his love for those around him spoke volumes, and he was always willing to go above and beyond to serve others. Dearly cherished, Ray will be forever missed.

The mid 1940s were tumultuous years all around the globe as WWII raged on. Many brave servicemen were called away from home. Those who remained stateside supported the war effort in every way they could, facing strict rationing and waiting by their radios for news. During such a tense time, however, there was much to celebrate in the household of Andrew and Cecelia (Lautner) Andres of Traverse City, Michigan, as they announced the arrival of their son, Raymond. Born on May 25, 1944, Ray was one of four Andres children and was raised alongside his three siblings, LaVern, Gladys, and Joyce.

Throughout his childhood, Ray was a typical boy of his generation in many ways. He was known to constantly break his thick glasses by smashing them into everything while pretending they were trucks. Ray grew up running through the cherry fields around his hometown of Traverse City. He would often pick cherries on the property that would eventually become the Grand Traverse Resort. Ray attended elementary school in Traverse City. The family later moved to Saline, where he graduated from Saline High School. Although he was on the shy side from a young age, he discovered a love for acting and was involved in both the junior and senior plays. Ray was involved with the debate team as well.

It was while attending Saline High that Ray met the girl who would forever hold the key to his heart. Her name was Delynne Fritz, and Ray was so intimidated at first that he could barely speak to her. Still, he asked Delynne to dance at the Friday night school dance, and the rest was history. The two were a perfect match—Delynne loved to talk, and Ray was an excellent listener. Ray graduated from high school in 1962, then waited a few years for Delynne to graduate as well before asking her to marry him. Ray and Delynne were united in marriage on July 17 of 1965. The newlyweds then spent their honeymoon camping in a pup tent.

It wasn’t long before Ray’s family began to grow. He and Delynne were overjoyed to welcome their five children, Kevin, Timothy, Michelle, Angela, and James, into their hearts and home. They were a united front when it came to parenting, and when they were interviewed to adopt their daughters, the interviewer even commented that Ray and Delynne answered every question the same! Ray thrived in his role as a father, and he strove to lead by example. He was very involved in the lives of his kids, even serving as umpire for their games despite his terrible vision. Ray showed up for every event or special occasion, and it meant the world to his children to have him cheering them on.

Ray pursued further education at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. While attending, he acted in several KVCC plays, acting as Geppetto in Pinocchio and as Aladdin, before graduating in 1983. Ray took his role as provider for his family very seriously. When the company he was working for in the 1980s went bankrupt, Ray decided to go back to school in order to put himself on a better career path. He attended Western Michigan University while working part-time in order to take care of his family. Ray graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1992 from WMU. He went on to work in the Kalamazoo Valley Intermediate and Calhoun Intermediate School Districts as Director of Technology for several years, eventually retiring in 2006. Even in his retirement, Ray continued to work at Kalamazoo Valley Community College as a student advocate.

Over the years, the Andres family enjoyed taking camping trips all over the United States. They loved waking up at dawn to fish, even though they rarely caught anything. Later in life, Ray was thrilled to become a grandfather and even a great-grandfather. Known affectionately as Grandpa Golfcart, he adored his grandkids and doted on them whenever he could. Ray would often take all of his children and grandchildren to their place at Sandy Pines. It was so important to him to have his family together, and he considered himself blessed to be surrounded by so many loved ones.

Ray’s faith was the unwavering foundation of his life. He was involved with Osthemo Rotary and St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Portage, and he was in the church golf league. Ray was also an usher and Eucharistic Minister for St. Catherine’s, and he was a member of their men’s Bible group and their Marriage Encounter Team Leaders. Ray and Delynne were the first married couple with the church group to visit El Sitio, El Salvador. They traveled many years to serve in Casa Hogar, Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, with a church group as well. Ray’s love for peanut M&Ms and cashews was well known. He was a steady source of calm, no matter the circumstances, and he was a peacemaker famous for his diligent and methodical nature.

As family and friends gather to reflect on the life of Raymond Andres, it is easy to celebrate a man so dedicated to brightening the lives of those around him. His faith was steadfast, and as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, he took every chance to hold his family close. Although he is already so greatly missed, Ray leaves behind a priceless legacy of compassion and generosity that his loved ones will be proud to carry on in his footsteps.

Raymond Andres of Belleville, age 81, died on February 13, 2026. He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings: LaVern Andres, Gladys (George) Kalchik, and Joyce Galligan; and brother-in-law, David Fritz. Surviving are his wife, Delynne; children: Kevin (Lauri) Andres, Timothy (Britta) Andres, Michelle (Joshua) Simecek, Angela (Christopher) Jeffries, and James (Katie) Andres; grandchildren: Michael (Carley) Andres, Matthew (Amanda) Dahms, Nicklas (Madison) Andres, Austin (Mya) Andres , Jordan (Katie) Jeffries, Dante Jeffries, Aiden Andres, Ryan Andres, CJ Williams, Leura Andres, Benjamin Simecek, Nathan Simecek, Conner Andres, and Corvin Andres; great-grandchildren: Haleigh Dahms, Lily Dahms, and one on the way; sisters-in-law: Janet Andres and Wendy Fritz; brother-in-law: William Galligan; and 14 nieces and nephews.

Please join us at a Life Story Visitation where food, drinks, and stories will be shared on Thursday, February 19, from 5-7 PM at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900. A Prayer Service will begin at 7 PM. Mass will be Celebrated Friday, February 20, at 11 AM at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Portage. Visitation will begin one-hour prior at church. A reception will follow in Marian Hall. Burial at Genessee Prairie Cemetery. Celebrate Ray’s life online by sharing your favorite stories and photos on his dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com. Memorial contributions may be made to El Sitio, El Salvador through St. Catherine of Siena Parish.