Andrew Wrobel

Andrew Wrobel, age 75, of Orland Park and former resident of Joliet for 56 years, passed away peacefully at Lightways Hospice on Sunday, January 8, 2023. 

Beloved husband of Sophie (nee Lesnicki); loving father of Stanley (Lucynka) and the late Vickyann (1982); adored grandfather to Andrew and John; uncle and father figure to Kazimierz (KC) Maka; brother to the late Jan, Stefania and Jozef; brother-in-law, uncle, cousin and friend to many. 

Born on June 26, 1947 to Aleksander and Wiktoria, Andy grew up in Gron, Poland and in pursuit of the American Dream emigrated to Joliet in 1963.  In 1967 Andy returned to Poland and met his beloved wife, Sophie where they married on July 5th. Sophie then emigrated to Joliet in 1968 and later they opened Andy and Sophie’s Tavern in 1974 which was a popular neighborhood bar on Hickory Street that served the best homemade lunches in Joliet.  While Sophie cooked lunches and managed the finances, Andy was the bartender and witty jokester.  He also was a retired Teamster local 179.  Andy was a people person who cherished his family and friends, saw the importance in working hard and loved to make people smile.  He was proud of his Polish Highlander heritage but more proud of being a United States citizen coincidentally taking a picture with President Richard Nixon in Chicago 1972 after being sworn in. 

A celebration of Andrew’s life will begin on Saturday, January 14, 2023 with prayers in the funeral chapel at 9:20 a.m. then driving in procession to Holy Cross Catholic Church in Joliet for a Mass of Christian Burial to be held at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Justice. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 13, 2023 at Tezak Funeral Home, 1211 Plainfield Road, Joliet from 2:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

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