Andrew M. Birsa, Sr.

Andrew M. Birsa, Sr.

Age 81 of Shorewood, passed away on Monday, January 9, 2023.

Born March 26, 1941 in Rockdale, Andy was a son of Edward and Alice (Smith) Birsa. He was raised and educated in Rockdale and graduated from Joliet Catholic High School with the class of 1959. Andy retired from Commonwealth Edison as a Shift Engineer and dedicated his free time as a lifelong volunteer coach in the Joliet area. He coached for St. Raymond’s, St. Joseph’s Rockdale, the Joliet and Plainfield YMCA, as well as Troy School District’s basketball program, Joliet Park District’s soccer program, St. Raymond’s flag football, and St. Joseph’s Park baseball and softball programs for the Joliet Softball Association. He coached not only his children and grandchildren, but also thousands of youth in the Joliet area.

Andy is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years: Barbara (nee Tichy) Birsa; loving and devoted father to his children: Sue (Jason) Swanson, Shelly (Tom) Snyder, Andy (Molly) Birsa and Nicole Koopmann. Grandpa to his twelve adoring grandchildren: Sarah (Amanda) Schimanski, Thomas (Allie) Snyder, Ben Swanson, Scott Schimanski, Joshua Snyder, Steven Schimanski, Natalie Snyder, Jacob Swanson, Andrew Birsa, Anthony Birsa, Alexander Koopmann and Emma Birsa; his cherished siblings: Ellen Seeman, Dorothy Tomasino and Jack (Mary Jane) Birsa; brother-in-law to: Paula Imerman and Gene (Cindy) Martin, and uncle to numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Edward and Alice Birsa; daughter and son-in-law: Sandra and Scott Schimanski; father-in-law: Eugene Martin; sister and brother-in-law: Marianne and Pete Vukosovich; brothers-in-law: Don Seeman and Alex Tomasino, as well as infant brother: Edward Birsa.

Andy will be remembered for his devotion and never ending support for his family. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him and never forgotten as his children and grandchildren’s number one fan.

The family will receive relatives and friends for a visitation on Monday, January 16, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Tezak Funeral Home, 1211 Plainfield Road in Joliet. A celebration of Andy’s life will continue on Tuesday, January 17, beginning with closing prayers in the funeral home chapel at 9:20 a.m. The funeral will then drive in procession to Holy Family Catholic Church, 600 Brook Forest Avenue in Shorewood, for a Mass of Christian Burial beginning at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow and Andy will be laid to rest at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery in Romeoville.