Mr. Andre Gregory Stewart

Andrae Gregory Stewart, 44, passed away on September 9, 2026, at The Toledo Hospital. He was born on May 14, 1982, in Alton, Illinois, to Gregory and Andrea (Woods) Stewart. Andrae’s greatest joy in life was his family. He was a devoted husband, proud father, and a man who found happiness in simply being together with the people he loved most. He met the love of his life, Danielle Stewart, in 2006, and they began their life together soon after. They were married on March 5, 2010, and shared more than two decades of love, laughter, adventures, and countless memories. Andrae and Danielle did everything together, whether it was something big and exciting or something as simple as spending time at home. He was incredibly proud to be Danielle’s husband and Katelynn and Marcus’s father. His family was his everything, and they knew without a doubt that everything he did was for them. He loved to travel, with Disney World holding a particularly special place in his heart. Andrae and Danielle dreamed of eventually retiring to Florida, where Andrae planned to fulfill another dream of his: driving a Disney bus. It was one of the many dreams they shared together. Andrae was a proud graduate of Alton High School, Class of 2000, where he was a talented athlete who played both football and basketball. He later attended MacMurray College for a short time, where he continued playing football until an injury brought his playing career to an end. His love of sports, however, never left him. That love became especially meaningful through his years of coaching and volunteering. Since 2013, Andrae served as a coach with Lucas County Special Olympics, coaching volleyball, softball, flag football, and, most importantly to him, basketball. Basketball was his favorite, and he never missed a season. His athletes meant so much to him, and many of them considered him the best basketball coach. To Andrae, coaching was never just about the sport. It was about the athletes, the relationships he built, and the opportunity to encourage and support people he cared deeply about. Andrae was always willing to lend a hand. He volunteered with Girl Scouts when Katelynn was involved, happily helping with cookie sales—especially when they were selling cookies at the mall, where he proudly took on the role of their unofficial security guard. He volunteered at his children's schools through Springfield Local Schools, helping wherever he was needed. He was involved with the Holland Parent Club when the children were in elementary school, participating in school dances, fundraisers, classroom ice cream parties, and games of kickball. At Springfield High School, Andrae became known as the Grill Master. Friday night football games were only the beginning; whenever the grill needed to be fired up, Andrae was ready to serve. He was a proud Blue Devil Band Dad and was looking forward to beginning his next chapter as a UT Band Dad. He coached Marcus for a year of flag football and volunteered at track meets throughout Marcus's middle school and high school years. Andrae also had a lifelong love of college football. His favorite team was the USC Trojans, and he never needed much convincing to settle in and watch a game. At home, Andrae loved his XBOX. He especially enjoyed playing Grand Theft Auto and was looking forward to the release of the newest installment later this year. His love of video games was another passion he shared with Marcus, creating memories that will live on long after the games are turned off. Andrae's working life reflected his dedication and his caring nature. He talked fondly about his early jobs at Taco Bell and Beverly Farm. In 2006, he began working at Anne Grady Center, where he also met Danielle. After leaving Anne Grady, he worked for Champaign Residential Services, Inc. (CRSI) for several years before eventually returning to Anne Grady. At the time of his passing, he was working as a Scheduling Specialist. Andrae will be remembered for his enormous heart, his willingness to help, his love of sports, his dedication to his athletes and community, his sense of humor, and above all, his unwavering devotion to his family. He didn't just tell the people he loved that they mattered—he showed them every single day. His greatest accomplishment was being a husband and father, and his family was the center of his world. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Danielle Stewart, whom he met in 2006 and married on March 5, 2010; his children, Katelynn Stewart and Marcus Stewart; his mother, Andrea (Ronnie) Ashburn; his father, Gregory (Shelia) Stewart; his siblings, Zita Stewart, Timara Meadows, and Justin (Beverly) Meadows; his stepsister, Fionna (Leon) Smallwood-Bey; and many beloved aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, athletes, fellow volunteers, and members of the communities he served. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Carolyn Jones and Anderson Woods, and Juanita Cooper and Louis Stewart. Andrae leaves behind a legacy that cannot be measured by titles, jobs, trophies, or accomplishments. His legacy is found in the people he loved, the children he encouraged, the athletes he coached, the families he helped, the games he attended, the grills he fired up, the adventures he shared, and the countless ordinary moments that became extraordinary because he was there. Above all, Andrae was a family man. Danielle, Katelynn, and Marcus were his everything—and he was theirs. His absence will be deeply felt, but so will his love. Andrae gave his family a lifetime of memories, and those memories will carry them forward until they meet again.

Mr. Andre Gregory Stewart

May 14, 1942 - September 9, 2026