Ambrose J. Andre' Jr.

LOWVILLE- Ambrose J. André Jr., 89, of Cardinal Lane, passed away at his home on Tuesday morning, September 26, 2023, under the loving care of his family and Lewis County Hospice.

He is survived by his beloved wife of more than 65 years, Erma; three children, James (Terri) André of Kennewick, WA, Kelley Wasicek (significant other Dave Stalder) of Pittsburgh, PA; Lee (Diane) André of Wilmington, NC; three grandchildren, Tristen André, Brian André, Nicholas Wasicek (fiancé Moira Bedell); nieces, nephews and cousins.  He is predeceased by two sisters, LaVerne Maring and Joyce Boucher.

Ambrose was born on June 10, 1934 at the birthing home Idle Ease, Croghan, NY, a son of the late Ambrose J. and Mildred M. Bush André and graduated from Lowville Academy in 1951.  He was a Reserve Officer Training Corps graduate from Clarkson College of Technology in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and earned a commission as Second Lieutenant with the U.S. Army Reserves.    Ambrose worked on the St. Lawrence Seaway with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from 1955 – 1958.  He had six months active duty with the Army from March 1957 –September 1957 in Ft. Dix, NJ.  On July 19, 1958, he married Erma C. Ellis at Sts. Donation & Rogation Catholic Church in Randolph, Vermont.  He worked in Maine from May until the fall of 1958, then moved to Buffalo, NY, working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers until 1966.  From 1966-1970, he worked with the Federal Housing Administration, then the Department of Housing and Urban Development from 1970-1973.  He returned to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Buffalo, NY from 1973 until his retirement in 1989.  After his retirement, the couple moved to Brantingham.  The couple moved to Lowville in 2010 and then to their current residence at Brookside Senior Living Community in 2014.

Ambrose was a communicant of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Lowville.  He was a member of Balsam Flats Hunting Club. Ambrose was also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Society of Reliability Engineers.  He was a Boy Scout Leader for many years.  While living at Brantingham, Ambrose helped to maintain the water quality at Pleasant Lake and Brantingham Lake as part of the Brantingham Lake Association.  He especially enjoyed monitoring his investments and following Warren Buffett, a successful investor and the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway.  His greatest source of pride was his three children.

In keeping with Ambrose’s wishes, there will be no calling hours or funeral service.  A private graveside service will be held at Brantingham Cemetery at the convenience of the family with Rev. Douglas Decker, Pastor of St. Peter’s Catholic Church officiating. 

Contributions may be made in Ambrose’s name to Lowville Academy Athletics, 7668 N. State Street, Lowville, NY 13367; or please consider supporting student scholarships at Clarkson University by making a donation to The Clarkson Fund. Gifts can be made online by visiting clarkson.edu/giveback or by sending a check, made payable to Clarkson University, to: Development Operations, Clarkson University, Box 5515, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, NY 13699-5515; or St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 5439 Shady Ave., Lowville, NY 13367; or Scouts BSA Troop 162, c/o Lowville American Legion Post 162, 5383 Dayan St., Lowville, NY 13367.

Ambrose’s family wishes to send a special thank you to the angels at Lewis County Home Health and Lewis County Hospice, for their loving care and kindness shown to Ambrose during his brief illness.

Condolences may be shared with Ambrose’s family at www.isenekerfuneralhome.com.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.