Andrew Ehrensing

Andrew was born on June 23, 1975 in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Eleanor (Metsa) and Michael Ehrensing. His family moved back to the Copper Country when Andrew was three years old. He was raised first in Chassell and then in Baraga.

After receiving a computer as a gift from his grandmother, Andrew quickly became engrossed in technology. By the time he graduated from Baraga High School in 1993, Andrew had started a business helping individuals and companies with their computer problems. He attended Michigan Tech for three years where he studied mechanical engineering and became a member of the Sigma Pi fraternity. He began his professional career at Metamor Technologies in Chicago, utilizing his expertise in PC hardware and networking, before joining Microsoft in 2005. Andrew became an expert in Microsoft’s e-mail and messaging technologies and was selected for the company’s elite Rangers program for their top engineers. Andrew worked on many of the company’s most challenging projects. He was a well-regarded and popular speaker at numerous technical conferences in the United States, Europe, and Asia, where his delivery style and humor made his sessions entertaining as well as highly informative.

In 2007, Andrew married Haihong Tian in a civil ceremony in Chicago. They settled into their first home in Park Ridge, Illinois. Sara and Arden, his two daughters, were the joy of Andrew’s life. Haihong and Andrew took the girls to China on numerous occasions to visit her family, and spent time in the Copper Country hiking, camping, swimming and helping in Grandma’s garden. Andrew was also close with his Ehrensing family in New Orleans, visiting often. Andrew and Haihong were fortunate to be able to travel the world, visiting Tibet, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and South America.

Andrew is survived by his wife, Haihong; and his daughters, Sara Fan (6) and Arden Mei (2) of Park Ridge; his parents, Eleanor and Michael Ehrensing of Baraga; brothers, Abel of Honolulu, Hawaii and Eddie (Elise) of Park Ridge; grandmother, Rita Arden Ehrensing of New Orleans, Louisiana; uncles, Thomas (Pat) Ehrensing of Knoxville, Tennessee, Daniel (Lori) Metsa of Northbrook, Illinois; aunts, Marilyn (Kenneth) Clark of Hancock, Doris (Richard) MacDonald of Katy, Texas, Joyce Metsa of Metlakatla, Alaska, Janet (Michael Mullens) Metsa of Houghton, Barbara (Kevin) Kratzberg of Covington, Louisiana, and Sharon (Joseph) Yanosky Senoia, Georgia; cousins, Gordon (Anna) Ehrensing, Patrick (Camie), Daniel, and Geoffrey (Jaala, sons Roman and Weston) Ehrensing, Jeremy Kratzberg, Robin and Joseph Yanosky, Kenneth Ryan, Benjamin, and Jacqueline Clark, Alison and Courtney MacDonald, Galen (Amy), Anna, and Corey Mullens, Zachary, Samantha, and Olivia Metsa.

Andrew was preceded in death by his uncle, Mark Ehrensing; and his grandparents, Urho and Helmi Metsa and Douglas Ehrensing.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Suerth Funeral Home 6754 N. Northwest Hwy. Chicago, IL 60631. Please visit their website at suerth.com.

Haihong has requested that no flower arrangements be sent. In lieu of flowers an education savings account for Sara and Arden will be opened by Microsoft at Bright Start. Please contact Ross Smith IV.