Andrew "Andy" Ford

Andrew “Andy” Michael Ford, 37, of Minneapolis, MN passed away surrounded by his family on July 29, 2021.

Andy was born on April 7, 1984 in La Crosse, WI. He attended Central High School and the University of Minnesota, graduating with a joint degree in videography & communications. After graduation, Andy taught English in France, this experience garnered a love for the French language, culture, and cuisine. Upon his return, he started his own videography company, working closely with Wide Angle Studio. Andy had enormous passion and dedication for capturing the life, humanity, emotion, and stories of the people and experiences in every video he created.

Andy met the love of his life, Stephanie, in 2012 and they were married on October 4, 2014. Their daughter Addison Mae was born in November 2016 and son Llewyn Russell in May 2019.  Together they enjoyed hiking, walks to the Mississippi River, bike rides to Minnehaha Falls, and kitchen dance parties. With Andy’s vibrant energy and optimism accompanying Stephanie’s grounding presence, their family thrived.  Andy taught his family to love nature and truly enjoy life's pleasures.

Andy brought joy and laughter wherever he went, always accompanied by a frisbee and a stellar playlist. He loved rooting on the Green and Gold as well as the maroon and gold.  He loved tuning up his mandolin for jam sessions with his brother or his Guerrilla Blue bandmates.  He loved making his children laugh. No trout stream or upper Michigan lake was safe from Andy’s fishing expertise. Even when he didn’t catch a thing, he loved the opportunity to share time and stories with his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Stephanie (Walsh), children Addison and Llewyn, parents Russell and Diane, brother Adam (Beth) Ford, sister Adriane (Christopher) Lepage, niece Emma, nephews Tyler, Owen, and Connor, Aunts Carol (Joe) Immermann and Nancy McCormick, Uncles Ken and George (Mary) Ford, father- and mother-in-law Michael and Cheryl Walsh, brother-in-law Riles (Katie) Walsh and Stephanie’s grandmother Alyce Mae Beeck.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents George & Grace Ford and Marvin & Janet Newberg, Uncle Patrick “Old Pal” McCormick, Aunt Marilyn Newberg, and sister Kelly Ann.

A gathering of family and friends in Andy’s honor will be held at 11:00AM, with visitation beginning at 10:00AM, on September 25th at Bradshaw Celebration of Life Center in Stillwater, MN.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Andy’s name can be given to Gustavus Adolphus College Department of Theatre & Dance, gustavus.edu/give/Theatre+and+Dance+Department, or sent directly to the family for a student scholarship at TRIO Upward Bound.

Thanks to Dr. Elizabeth Neil, the care team at M Health Fairview Masonic Cancer Clinic, and Grace Hospice for their outstanding care and compassion. We would also like to thank the hundreds of people who gave their support, time, and love to Andy and Stephanie in ways too numerous to mention.