Allen Andre

Allen Raymond Andre, 86, Bismarck, passed away on October 4, 2009, at Medcenter One Hospital after a long battle with various health issues. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm Thursday at McCabe United Methodist Church, Bismarck, with Rev. Art Scanson officiating. Burial will be held at Fairview Cemetery, Bismarck. Cremation has taken place. Allen was born July 6, 1923, in Bismarck, ND, to J.R. and Pearl Haase Andre. He graduated high school in Thief River Falls, MN, after growing up on various family farms and ranches in North Dakota. He worked his way through college as a salesman for Fuller Brush. It was then that he recognized a love and talent for sales. Upon leaving college he attained the position of District Sales Manager, and later Regional Sales Manager for Forney Arc Welders of Fort Collins, DO, which took him to various regions of the U.S. and Canada. During that time he and his wife, Gen, lived in various areas including a few years in Canada in the 1950s. In 1962 Allen and family returned to Bismarck where he founded Andre Industries, Inc. 1964 – 1985, eventually employing up to forty people. His company produced Apollo brand products such as Arc Welders, High Pressure Washers, Metal Cutting Bandsaws, Meat Butchering saws, as well as seed drill hitch and transport equipment. His time as an early distributor of Makita power tools afforded him the opportunity to make several trips to Japan. Allen was a visionary who developed many product concepts some of which were later adopted and marketed by major equipment companies such as John Deere. Many people who worked in his company have honored him as: “The best employed I ever worked for.” In 1987 he established Apollo Sales & Service, Inc. developing a revolutionary products for renewing faded machinery paint called Color Back, which he has marketed throughout the US and Canada since that time. Allen had a tremendous zest for life, and greatly enjoyed socializing with family, friends, customers, and suppliers. He especially enjoyed his weekly billiards at his warehouse and good friend Morris Brynjolfson and son, Paul. He also enjoyed his coffee at “The Little Cottage” with his friend, Craig Anderson. Allen was always keenly interested in politics, as his father was a former member of the ND State House and Senate, and his mother was a former leader of the Democratic Women of North Dakota. The family would like to recognize and thank the staff at Medcenter One, and Dr. Tony Tello for the compassion and care he received from them during his years of struggle with health issues. Dr. Tello once said: “Allen is so tough, he is like a cat with nine lives.” Allen was a long time member of McCabe United Methodist Church and the Bismarck Elks Lodge. He leaves his wife, Genevieve “Gen” Andre, Bismarck; his daughter, Arlene Andre Tom Disselhorst, Bismarck; his son, Paul Teresa Andre, Bismarck; his grandchildren, Vanessa Andre, Regina, Saskatchewan, Jill Nicholas Andre-Cherubin, Fort Collins, CO, and Daniel, Matthew, and Jennifer Andre, Bismarck; his brother, Robert Andre, Mayville, ND; his sister, Georgia Jim Seidlitz, OR, his nephew, Byron Andre, Bismarck; his niece, Marcella Andre, Fargo; his uncle, Charles Tilly Shipley, Steele; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jacob Raymond and Pearl; and his brother, Aaron.

Allen Andre

July 6, 1923 - October 4, 2009