Andrew P. Hoos

Andrew Paul Hoos, February 20, 1924 - May 21, 2018.

Born Johann Andreas Hoos in Wellerstadt Germany.

Andrew (Andy) died peacefully at home after a long and full life at the age of 94 in the care of his wife Helen.

His final resting place will be in New York at the request of his children.

He is preceded in death by his parents Bernard and Katharina (Catherine) Hoos, first wife Caroline Hoos, sister Clara and many cousins. He was the last of his generation.

He is survived by his wife Helen Chavez- Hoos, with whom he would have celebrated 25 years of marriage in June; Andy’s children: Catherine Warner and husband John, Anthony Hoos and wife Kristy, Andrea More and husband Wes; seven grandchildren; six great grandchildren; stepchildren: Patricia Chavez, Thomas Chavez, Mark Chavez and Fay Albo.

Andy’s early years:

Andy immigrated from Germany with his family through Ellis Island as a child. He grew up in New York City and married his first wife, Caroline Mahar, in 1947. Following his military service he worked for various cement companies as a crane operator in Howes Cave, NY, General Electric in Schenectady, and SUNY Cobleskill. He and Caroline moved to Rio Rancho in 1982 upon retirement.

Military Service:

Andy was so very proud of his service in the Marine Corps where he joined at the age of 18 to serve our great country in both WWII and the Korean War. He received two honorable discharges for 8 years of service. You rarely if ever saw him without his Marine cap “Semper Fi”. He looked forward to meeting his fellow Marines every memorial weekend at a local restaurant who honor our veterans.

Life in New Mexico:

A resident of Rio Rancho, New Mexico for 36 years, Andy was an active member at the Meadow Lark Senior Center where he often met his friends for breakfast and lunch. He enjoyed playing pool and working in his yard cultivating his cactus garden that included a rare species of red and pink blossom Hedgehog (Echinocereus) cactus.

Andy loved to watch old western movies and wolves at the zoo and at the wolf sanctuary in New Mexico. A life long Yankee fan, he often reminisced about gladly paying 25 cents as a youth to sit at the top of the stadium to watch the Yankees play baseball.

His passion for scrapping metal was multi facetted. He spent most mornings out in the desert west of Rio Rancho with his German Shepherd, Corporal, who he rescued out there while collecting brass shell casings that he referred to as “Brass Betty”. Andy was known to search the city car washes for aluminum cans. Not a can was left unnoticed that Andy didn’t pick up. Family and friends would give him old cables, cords and anything that contained copper. He would sit for days with his trusty pocket knife stripping wire that would ultimately yield 5 or 6 dollars at the scrap yard.

Andy and Helen were five year members of the Amigos, a volunteer group that provide ushering services for performances at Popejoy Hall in Albuquerque. This gave him the opportunity to enjoy the symphony and other performances. He and Helen also actively volunteered at the Saint Felix Food Pantry in Rio Rancho.

Andy and Helen spent may years fishing on the Columbia River with Helen’s family. For the entire month of August, family and friends would camp in Long Beach, Washington fishing on the family’s boat, canning and eating spring salmon.

A special heart felt thanks to Jessica Garvin, Andy’s step granddaughter and Travis Durham for the tireless care and support given to Andy and Helen in the last 3 months.

Read at the Celebration of Life at Golden Corral:

This story would not be complete without thanking Golden Corral. This is the restaurant mentioned earlier that honors veterans every year with a meal, thus giving Andy the opportunity to meet and reminisce with his fellow Marines. This was also the place where he and Helen had their first date. With that said, my mother Helen thanks you all for coming for the early bird special to celebrate Andy’s life. Andy wouldn’t have had it any other way.