Andrew Williams

Andrew Williams

November 25, 1956 – January 15, 2024

Andrew Williams, age 67, of Omaha, NE was called home January 15, 2024 after a valiant battle with Pancreatic Cancer.

Andrew was born on November 25, 1956 to Marie Lockhart Williams and Leroy Williams, Sr. in South Minneapolis. He was the youngest of four children: late Alfred Williams; Shirley Williams; late Leroy Williams, Jr.

Andrew’s upbringing shaped him into the man he grew to be. His family came from humble beginnings. His parents divorced when he was 5 and his mother raised her four children in the Seward Neighborhood where Andrew attended Monroe and Seward Elementary Schools and Philips Jr. High School. It was through his formative schooling experience that he met some of the most influential people in his life: great friends and great teachers like John Watts who introduced him to his love of music; Sherry Carlson who sold him his very first bass guitar, a 1965 Precision Bass – white maple neck; Gordon Anderson who broadened his horizons to movies and great Italian food (Café DiNapoli), treating him to dinner and a movie monthly and opening his eyes to other worlds; and finally Joy Gustafson who took it upon herself to ensure that he would be destined for higher education.

But before that it was music. Andrew was self-taught, learning to play his bass guitar by copying the music he heard on his beloved records. He became so good that he was asked to first substitute and later become a permanent bass guitarist for a South African band called ABADINGI. The band traveled the college circuit and occasionally played larger venues like the Orchestra Hall. The band’s claim to fame was being invited to open for Bob Marley and the Wailers’ first American tour. Andrew’s best music story included a jam session with a young Prince in the garage at his mother’s home on 22^nd Avenue. By the age of 13, Andrew was a session bassist and a card-carrying union musician.

While in high school at Minneapolis South, Andrew was given the opportunity to take a job with a small local bank, The Chicago – Lake State Bank, where he worked as a messenger. The job involved picking up teller proof work and delivering it to the single pocket sort operator in the lower level of the building. Andrew worked there from 1972 until his high school graduation in 1974. It was at the bank where Andrew also met his wife, Monina. She was a teller.

Andrew and Monina were married on August 25, 1979, and in 1980, he graduated with a degree in Business Administration and Human Resource Management from the University of Minnesota. The couple went on to have daughter Andrea Michelle Lourdes Williams (Forsht) and son Allan Martin Lorenzo Williams. Andrew had tremendous pride in his children. Watching them thrive in their schooling, careers and relationships was his greatest legacy. His 50-year love story with Monina was one of great admiration, care and respect and a model for his children and others to aspire to.

Andrew spent 42 years in the financial services industry working at First Bank Southdale, Norwest Banks in the Twin Cities, Metropolitan Federal Banks in Des Moines, First National Bank and Great Western Bank in Omaha, Bank of the West in Oklahoma City, and US Bank in Kansas City, eventually becoming an Executive Vice President of a multi-billion-dollar financial company. He had a storied career and befriended and mentored many of his colleagues along the way.

After retiring from the banking industry, Andrew took the opportunity to follow his passion for cars and joined Mercedes-Benz of the Omaha where he proudly worked alongside great coworkers and served a wonderful group of clients for 12 years.

Andrew’s greatest joy were his grandchildren: William Dashiel Forsht, Alexander Mateo Williams, Mia Sutton Forsht, Henry Lucas Williams, and Isla Bowie Forsht.

Preceded in death by his father, Leroy Williams Sr.; and brothers, Alfred Prentiss Williams, and Leroy Williams Jr.

Survived by his wife, Monina Williams: children, Andrea Forsht (Gregory), Allan Williams (Rocio); mother, Marie Freeze; sister, Shirley Williams; and his beloved grandchildren.

Services will be held at St. Stephen the Martyr Church (16701 S Street, Omaha, NE 68135) on Saturday, January 20^th at 10:30am and will be followed by a light lunch.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Omaha Street School or the University of Minnesota Alumni Association Student Success Fund.

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