Joseph Andrew "Andy" Maher age 62 a 25 year resident of Pinon Hills, CA. departed this Earth on December 14th, 2015 at his home in Pinon Hills after a fifteen month battle with Anaplastic Astrocytoma. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa November 23rd, 1953 to Raymond Melvin Maher and Virginia Ann Jamison. He moved to California in 1959 at the age of six. He attended elementary school in Pomona, California where he was inspired by his fifth grade teacher Mr. Pitts. He later relocated to Ontario, California where he graduated from Ontario High School with the class of 1972, and met his wife and love of his life Mary Margaret "Margie". He attended Chaffey Community College for a brief while, and later returned to Iowa, where he and Margie were married in 1973. Andy began his successful career with IBM in 1976, where he worked on a variety of product line, and was also an instructor in Boulder, Colorado. Andy thoroughly enjoyed his job. Andy and Margie eventually moved to Pinon Hills where Andy built the family home. This is where they raised their five children, Joe, Josh, Kelly, Keri, and Kristen. Andy returned to college, and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2002 from Cal Baptist University with a degree in liberal studies. Andy was also involved with the CWA, and tried to organize IBM into a union.
Andy was a loving husband and father, and an adoring grandfather. Andy loved to fish, watch football, work on cars, do magic tricks for kids, and talk politics with anyone who would listen and a few who wouldn't. Ho loved taking walks with Margie, and also enjoyed riding his bicycle. Andy had a wonderful sense of humor, and loved making jokes and broadcasting the "joke of the week" to his coworkers. Andy loved making people happy. The love of family and friends were his most treasured gifts.
Andy was preceded in death by his father Ray Maher, sister Erin-Kay Maher, and step father Stephen Dennis. He is survived by his wife, Margie of Pinon Hills, CA. son Joe (Annette) Maher of Oak Hills, CA, son Josh (Jill) Maher of Riverside, CA, Kelly (Jerry) Wing of Waynesville, MO., Dr. Keri Maher (Brandon Thayn) of Tucson, AZ., and Kristen (Dr. Bryce) Inman of Edmonds, WA. He is also survived by his ten grandchildren and one great grandchild. Brandon Brown, Lauren Maher, Justin, Lillienne, James, Isabelle, and Grace Wing, Owen Inman, Elliot Maher, Jonathan Wing and great grandchild Jesse Delaney. In addition he is survived buy his mother Virginia Dohrman, brothers Michael and Patrick Maher, and sister Kathi Wycoff.
A celebration of Andy's life will be held January 23rd, 2016 at 1 p.m. at the Phelan LDS chapel 8889 Sheepcreek Rd. Phelan, CA. In lieu of flowers the family requests remembrances be made to one of Andy's favorite charities, University of Arizona Cancer at http://uacc.arizona.edu/ or The Foothill AIDS project at: 233 West Harrison, Claremont, CA 91711
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