09.27.2025

Baby Jeremy made his debut in May of 1997—just a few weeks ahead of schedule. With the support of loving hands and a touch of medical magic, he entered the world ready to take on life. Jeremy was a quiet, but curious child—the third of four siblings. From an early age, he was always creative and worked marvels with his hands, eager to take things apart and figure out how they worked. He also picked up odd jobs here and there, like tending to raspberry bushes for a local farmer, proving from the start that he wasn’t afraid of hard work. School was never his favorite, and he struggled in some subjects, but with determination and after-school help he pushed through. By middle school, he had found drive and discipline through wrestling, and in high school he thrived in athletics—running cross-country and playing soccer. High school also gave Jeremy another passion: his beloved K10. Almost every day after class, he could be found wrenching on his truck, pouring time and energy into his first true love. At just 16, Jeremy began his first official job at Bob Evans. Not long after, he joined the MMP cemetery as part of the grounds maintenance crew, where he spent years dedicated to keeping things in order. His natural eye for organization and improvement quickly stood out. Over time, he became certified to operate the retort and learned to sandblast headstones and benches—always looking for ways to expand his skills. Jeremy’s curiosity and work ethic only grew stronger. He had always dreamed of operating heavy machinery, and with a little encouragement, he took a leap into construction. Soon after, he committed himself to earning his CDL—a milestone that opened new doors and propelled his career forward. Jeremy’s journey has been one of grit, growth, and relentless determination—qualities that continue to shine through in every chapter of his life.

Andrea came into this world in February of 1998, almost exactly nine months after Jeremy. From the very beginning she was excitable, curious, and always full of questions—too smart for her own good and eager to lend a helping hand to her older siblings and parents. As a child, Andrea reveled in imaginary play and quickly became known as the “Barbie Master” of the neighborhood thanks to her extensive collection of dolls, playhouses, cars, and accessories. When she wasn’t busy creating elaborate Barbie worlds, she was “teaching” her dolls with handmade lesson plans and grading their daily assignments. Eager to learn from an early age, Andrea was excited to start school and quickly excelled once she did. She embraced challenges head-on, enrolling in advanced and honors classes as soon as they were offered. Teachers often praised her work ethic and intelligence, many noting she was destined to become an engineer. After graduating high school in 2016, Andrea found herself on an unexpected path: a unique opportunity to help build a company in the automotive industry from the ground up. Though the field was unfamiliar, she took on the challenge with enthusiasm, developing professional skills in every area imaginable—building internal processes, creating HR policies, managing billing and collections, resolving customer issues, staffing and managing jobs, and allocating resources. All the while, she balanced these responsibilities with her college studies. Her persistence and determination paid off in May of 2022, when she proudly graduated with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering. After graduation, the world was her oyster; however, she ultimately decided to continue on the path of growing a small business, with the blessing of working alongside her family day in and day out. Andrea’s journey has been one of curiosity, resilience, and growth—qualities that continue to shape the strong, driven woman she is today.

The transition from awkward 8th grader to high school freshman is always a daunting feeling. Was it going to be like the movies? Teens making out in the hallways? Freshmen getting hazed by seniors? Was it going to be loud and fast-paced running from one side of the school to get to the other before the bell rang? Neither Jeremy or Andrea knew what to expect in this next chapter of their adolescent lives. For Jeremy, it was another school year to get through in braces and quirky glasses with the transition lenses. It was one year closer to graduation. Running cross country and simultaneously playing soccer made that Fall go that much faster. For Andrea, it was a whole new school with new kids she had never seen before. Her family had just moved to the next town over and it seemed like the perfect time to start at a new school as the "new kid." She could be anyone she wanted. The first time they met was in 9th grade English class in Mrs. Farkas' class. Jeremy was the nerdy looking kid with a goofy laugh. Andrea was "the new cute girl" with the big curly hair. Fate had other plans for these two and it wasn't until years later (after a heartbreak or two each) before they would find their way to each other.

Anyone who knows Andrea knows that the month of February is always the most special to her. The month is February is filled with hearts, shades of red (her fave color), grand gestures of love, genuine appreciation, and most importantly - Valentine's Day and her birthday. Jeremy and Andrea had a mutual friend, Ethan M., who played matchmaker that month. Whispering in Jeremy's ear about how cute Andrea was and how nice they'd look together. Whispering in Andrea's ear about how bad Jeremy was crushing on her. He fueled an interest between the two who shared lunches together day after day, but were too shy to plan anything outside of school. Andrea threw feelers out there declaring Jeremy as her man in front of friends. He always agreed. With Valentine's Day around the corner, both Jeremy and Andrea planned grand Valentine's displays in each other's lockers with a note: "Will you be my Valentine?" Naturally, the first date from there was on Valentine's Day. Now for the Valentine's presents... Ethan continued to instigate a crush between the two. Whispering to Andrea about the "super expensive gift" Jeremy was planning for the Valentine's date. While also whispering to Jeremy about the "super amazing gift" Andrea was getting him. The pressure was on for both. It was clear that both wanted to impress the other. On Valentine's Day they met at Jeremy's choice of restaurant - Apple Bee's - with their "super expensive gifts." Jeremy with a giant teddy bear and silver necklace with Andrea's amethyst birthstone. Andrea with a custom engraved leather bracelet with their graduation year engraved on it. Both laughed at the instigation that led to the semi-elaborate gestures they had for each other on the first date. They knew it was the start of something special.

Things following the first date continued to go well. Jeremy and Andrea, while very shy and reserved, always seemed to find comfort in each other's company even if it was in silence. There was a certain comfort in the silence that they shared. The looks that they had for each other said it all. On March 11th, Jeremy asked Andrea to be his girlfriend and from there, they were inseparable for the remainder of Senior year.

Fall of 2018 is when the search for their first home officially began. Jeremy and Andrea went on 30+ showings of homes until they came across a cozy ranch in early January of 2019. To their luck, the listing photos were dark and dingy which seemed to deter many buyers from giving it a chance. Both Jeremy and Dawn (the realtor) were skeptical of Andrea's choice, but at that point, what did they have to lose? Andrea wondered how we would know that a home was "the one." Would there be a sign? Would there be a feeling? While skeptical, but optimistic, they went to tour the home. Andrea walked through the home envisioning all of the memories they would make together. All of the dinners they would cook together. Enjoying the view of the dogs running around in the back. And so much more. It was THE one, their first home in the same town where they met a few years earlier. The home where they would begin to experience countless "firsts" together like hosting their first Thanksgiving. The home where they would make so many special memories alongside Asia, Buck, and Luna for years to come. ~ Jeremy & Andrea would like to give a special thanks to their amazing realtor and family member, Dawn Waldrip Bertani, from Real Estate One who truly went above and beyond to ensure that they found THE perfect first home. ~

Jeremy, one of the most discrete people you will ever meet. He had been preparing for this moment for months that spanned into years. Doing research and searching for the "perfect ring" that he felt adequately represented his love and commitment to Andrea. He patiently waited for a holiday he knew was special to her. Nine years after their first date on Valentine's Day, in the comfort and privacy of their home, he knelt down on one knee and asked one of the most important questions he'd ask in life. Rose petals, dim lights, soft music, and candles perfectly set the tone for this momentous occasion. With those wonderful touches of romance that drew Andrea in when he made it "official" back in 2016, she said, "yes!"

In the presence of their beloved family and loved ones, Andrea and Jeremy celebrate their marriage and Union.