Kathleen E. Andel

Kathy was born September 5, 1946, in Monterrey, California, daughter of Edward J. and Helen K. (Bach) Crowley. She was raised in Calumet, Michigan until she was sent to Our Lady of the Holy Cross High School in Merrill, Wisconsin. She graduated in 1964.

She earned an Associate’s degree in Nursing from NMU, before moving from Hancock to Battle Creek then Calumet while working as an LPN. In February 1970, Kathy enlisted in the military. She started by serving stateside in the Women’s Army Corps, but by the mid-1970’s the Corps disbanded and she became one of the first LPN’s to serve in the regular Army during the Vietnam era. After reenlisting and spending just over a year at Fort Ord in California, Kathy’s service took her to Hessen, Germany, where she met and married her ex-husband Wolfgang Andel. Her stint in the Army ended in 1980.

In January of 1987, Kathy attended radiography school at Marquette General Hospital. She worked with patients in the MGH Cardiac Cath Lab and Radiation Oncology until she retired in 2003.

Her children and grandchildren were the most important part of her life. She loved spending holidays, traveling, and sharing countless meals with them. She felt close to them in good times and bad, and they meant the world to her.

Kathy’s journey as an NMU sports Super Fan was born out of supporting her son Hans. She attended every home football game for 27 straight years. One of her claims to fame was baking treats for the football players – including personalized cookies and cakes. She was known as the Cookie Lady, Team Mom and Team Grandma. It was not unusual to see her on the sidelines of sporting events sporting green and gold spray paint in her hair, and a feather boa in team colors.

International student-athletes on the men’s soccer team called Kathy their “American grandma.” She shared her home, love, and faith with them – and treated them like members of her family. They were an important part of her life, and she cherished her time with them.

Kathy’s love of country and her alma mater came together when she fulfilled her lifelong dream of crashing the cymbals with the NMU Marching Band during the National Anthem in November 2023, which was on her “bucket list.”

Another lifelong dream was fulfilled when she was chosen to go on the largest Women’s Honor Flight in history in May of 2025.

Kathy believed in the rights of every person, and worked hard to ensure social justice. Her activism began during the women’s liberation movement in the 1970s. She publicly stood up for the rights of women and LGBTQ+ people on many occasions, including speaking out about things she saw as injustices in the press.

She was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church and the American Legion Post 44 in Marquette. She worked tirelessly with St. Vincent de Paul and modeled a lifelong philosophy of community service, social responsibility and compassion into her children and grandchildren.

Kathy’s faith was the cornerstone of her life. She attended church regularly and lived her faith without apology. She was very comfortable giving her problems up to God. No matter what personal difficulties she encountered, her mantra was “This too shall pass.”

Kathy is survived by her children, Christine (Eric) Noreika of Marquette and Hans Andel of Marquette; grandchildren, Marina Wolfgang Garlow, Karsten Hans-Edward Andel and Jadynn Marie Noreika; siblings, Cecelia (Jim) Sanders of Yorkville, IL and Michael Crowley of Milwaukee, WI; step-brother, Ernest (Patti) Castonguay of Sterling Heights, MI; and many nieces & nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Mary Ellen Panijan; brother, David Crowley; granddaughter, Elena Garlow; and former spouse, Wolfgang Andel.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026 at Canale-Tonella Funeral Home and Cremation Services from 4 to 8 p.m. Attendees are asked to wear their NMU fan gear. A parish prayer service and rosary recitation will be held at 8 p.m. A second visitation will be held on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026 from 10 to 11 a.m. at St. Michael Catholic Church. Formal attire is encouraged. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. with Rev. Jose Cherian officiating. A luncheon will follow the Mass in the church hall. Interment will take place in Holy Cross Cemetery in the spring with Military Honors provided by the American Legion Post 44 and US Army.

Kathleen’s service will be livestreamed at https://my.gather.app/remember/kathleen-andel

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the NMU Foundation in her name. Kathy’s family intends to carry on her legacy by establishing a way to help student athletes in the future.

Memories of Kathy may be shared at canalefuneral.com