08/20/2025
Andrew Peter Repke died on August 8th, 2025, in Gruetli-Laager, Tennessee. He was born on January 24th, 1990, in Wonder Lake, Illinois.
Andrew is survived by his wife of thirteen years, Alexandra Repke, whom he called “Doewheat” in response to her frequently calling him “Buckwheat,” and their three children: Everly, Emerson, and Elise of Gruetli-Laager, Tennessee — or “The Groot,” as the family affectionately referred to it. He is also survived by his parents Rodney and Anna Repke of Chillicothe, Illinois; his siblings Micah (Johanna) Repke, Ben Repke, Leisl (Joe) Mackey, and John Paul (Anne) Repke, all of Illinois; siblings Amelia (Abram) Sanchez and Madison Repke, all of Texas; siblings Elijah (Samantha) Repke of Indiana and Anaya Repke of Illinois; and adopted brothers Jonathan Repke, Seth Wise, and Tariq Algosabi. Connected to his siblings, he leaves behind 11 nephews and 12 nieces who will feel his loss keenly. He is further grieved by many uncles, aunts, and cousins from his large, close-knit family. Andrew was also well beloved by his extended family of in-laws, wild antics and all. He is survived by father-in-law and mother-in-law Dale and Wendy Brott of Green, Ohio, as well as siblings-in-law Katie (Ben) Adams of Ohio and Elizabeth (Nicholas) Beese of Maryland. He leaves behind one niece and one nephew on his wife’s side. He will be deeply missed by many Brott cousins, aunts, and uncles, including his dear cousin-in-laws Erin (Chris) Seifert Jones and their son Monty.
Andrew’s spirit and impact cannot be communicated in words alone. Yet, here is a glimpse of the man he was.
Andrew homesteaded, homeschooled, adventured. He was a convicted giver, a deep thinker, an artist, and an explorer.
A consummate outdoorsman, Andrew spearfished, spelunked, foraged, and hunted – and was bold in experimenting with his quarry: from making coyote jerky to stewed fox. His more tame outdoor amusements included disc-golfing, a sport in which he excelled. His love for critters was boundless and indiscriminate. Over the years, he cared for every animal from tarantulas, to starlings, to squirrels, to possums, to a lone alligator snapping turtle.
He embodied the term “ingenious.” He built the family home (now at 95% completion), and fixed up two more besides. He left every place he touched beautiful. He could fix anything, and make anything. His artistry included painting, carving, sculpting, and landscaping, not to mention his engineering ways to repair things and creating alternative systems around the farm.
As a father, Andrew was his children’s rock, their enthusiastic homeschool teacher, and their very best playmate. His devotion to them was unmatched. As a husband, he provided unwavering support for his wife’s dreams and built her a perfect home that embodied both her refined tastes and his outdoorsy ones. People often referred to them as Tarzan and Jane. Their unexpected dynamic was what made them them. He loved her so.
His love for his immediate and extended family was fierce. He sought his father’s wisdom and knew he was proud of him. He took walks around the property with his mother, eagerly anticipating her affirmation, which she provided in spades. Andrew spent a large amount of time trying to convince those he loved to move to Tennessee and start a Repke Family Compound. His dream was for all of his people to be together. And, until then, he was intentional with his relationships, from weekly calls with his brother, to planned trips to Illinois and Texas where he would maximize the amount of time shared through adventure and service to others.
While we highlight the good things (and they are innumerable), Andrew would want you to know he wasn’t perfect and only through God’s grace he has been saved. His ever-present, well-worn, denim-encased Bible serves as a testament to his faith and commitment to continued growth throughout his life. Before he died, he had started a document addressing different worldviews and their implications, ultimately showcasing the truth of the Bible. He wrote, “. . . there is a God, [and] we know what He expects from us. There are consequences for disobedience and these consequences are eternal. We should do our best to obey this God at all costs.” His soul is safe because he knew Jesus. Though Andrew died, he lives.
We love and miss him so.
Visitations and a funeral service will take place in Tremont, Illinois. A visitation will be held from 6:00pm - 8:00pm on Friday, August 22nd at Northfield Christian Fellowship in Tremont. The funeral will be held on Saturday, August 23rd, also at Northfield Christian Fellowship in Tremont. Visitation for the funeral will begin at 9:30am, and the service will begin at 10:30am. For those who cannot make it in person, the funeral will be live-streamed via the Northfield Fellowship YouTube channel, under “Live”: https://www.youtube.com//streams. For attire, black is discouraged. Wearing colorful clothing is encouraged, as are kilts (seriously). Lunch for all to follow.
A note from Andrew’s wife, Alexandra
Andrew dreamed often of going to the mission field; before he died, he learned some Spanish (although, often spoken with a Jamaican accent) and went to the Dominican Republic a number of times to form relationships and share about Jesus.
Beyond his own missions dreams, he fervently supported his family’s missions work. In particular, he was passionate about his brother’s plans to partner with others to care for orphan children, and he excitedly talked to everyone and anyone about the missions work planned by his brother’s family. His brother and wife have previously served as missionaries in Africa and continue to have a strong desire to make a difference there.
Andrew’s conviction in life was to be a father to the fatherless, as shown by his desire and decision to adopt. His brother, John Paul, and his wife intend on doing just that – providing practical, emotional, and spiritual support to those who need it.
Andrew fully intended on supporting them in his life, and I, as his wife, am hopeful he can continue to support them in his death. For those looking for ways to honor Andrew’s memory (or heart), please consider giving to expand the work his brother’s family has started. You can do so by going to smallworldconnect.org, selecting “Donate” at the bottom of the page, and adding a note to your donation (specifying “Repke”).
https://www.davisoswaldfh.com/obituary/Andrew-Repke
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