Andrew J. “Andy” Dehel

Andrew J. “Andy” Dehel, age 86, of Bear, DE, passed away on Sunday, June 18, 2023.

Born in Philadelphia, PA on November 24, 1936, he was a son of the late Andrew P. and Dolores (Knast) Dehel. Andy was a graduate of LaSalle University, and completed some post graduate work at the Wharton School. He proudly served in the United States Navy as a Lieutenant Jr Grade. Andy met his future wife, Betty and they were engaged two weeks later, spending almost 57 years of love together. Andy worked for many years as a personnel manager in healthcare. He later worked as a school bus driver and particularly loved driving the bus for the Sterck School for the Deaf.

Andy loved to watch any sport, but football was his favorite. He was an avid Philadelphia sports fan and never missed an opportunity to cheer on his teams, especially the Eagles. Andy was also heavily involved in local soccer for years. Above all, his absolute favorite pastime was surf fishing. Andy spent countless hours at the shoreline hoping for a big catch. His family and friends will most cherish all his stories – boy did that man love to tell his stories! And he loved hearing stories from others, too. Family was very important to him, and his proudest accomplishment was his family.

In addition to his parents, Andy was preceded in death by his sister, Joanne Lavin (Jim). He is survived by his beloved wife, Betty (Tritsch) Dehel; siblings, Dee Hayes (Vic), Terry Harfner (Bill), and Mike Dehel; children, Drew Dehel (Dan Cohen), Beth Gesner (Rich), Greg Dehel (Dawn), and Grace Dehel; grandchildren, Quentin Dehel, Rain Dehel, Emma Dehel, Ethan Dehel, Tyler Dehel, Denisha Fanning, Jocelyn Gesner (Brandon), Nate Dehel, and Christian Rodriguez (Figaro); numerous nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews and great grandnieces; and many friends of his children and grandchildren, whom he considered as family (and vice versa).

A celebration of life will begin at 11 am on Tuesday, June 27^th, 2023, at St. Nicholas Episcopal Church, 10 Old Newark Road, Newark, DE. Interment will be held privately at a later date. Repast to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Andy’s memory to St. Nicholas Episcopal Church, at the address listed above, Doctors Without Borders USA, P.O. Box 5030, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5030 or online by clicking here, or to the Waterkeeper Alliance, 180 Maiden Lane, Suite 603, New York, NY 10038 or online by clicking here.