Andrew J. Pineda

Andrew J. Pineda, the world’s biggest University of Michigan fan, 49, of Parchment, MI passed away Thursday, September 26, 2024 surrounded by loved ones at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, MI. Andrew was born October 13, 1974, the first of twin babies born that day. Andrew spent his whole working career emersed in the hospitality industry beginning with Mountain Jacks in Portage, MI before moving to Ferndale, MI in the mid-nineties where he worked at the likes of Morton’s of Chicago, California Pizza Kitchen and P.F. Chang’s. Around 2007, Andrew made his way back to Kalamazoo and started the Tamale Guy selling his homemade tamales, chips and a variety of salsas at the Kalamazoo Farmer’s Market. When he wasn’t making tamales, Andrew could be found haggling his way through the world of antiques on the hunt for a good find, listening to Bob Marley, Pink Floyd, The Grateful Dead and Phish along the way. A diagnosis of gastroparesis around 2009 brought his whole life to a halt as he knew it as the side effects made it a daily struggle to function and worsened as the days, months and years passed by. Never finding answers or relief, he entered the hospital on September 13th where typical symptoms of gastroparesis were present only to be diagnosed with stage four metastatic adenocarcinoma, or metastatic pancreatic cancer as it was later found.

Andrew was preceded in death by his mother, Patsy and his two brothers, Joe Paul and Michael Alan Pineda. He is survived by his father Joe (Pam) Pineda of Gobles, MI, his brother, Marc Pineda of Parchment, MI, sister, Nichole Pineda of Kalamazoo, MI, his two aunts, Martha Gutierrez and Lupe (Jasmin) Pineda, both of Parchment, MI, his niece, Jaimie (Robert) McCue, of Alameda, CA, nephew, Paul (Molly) Pineda of Portage, nieces Khrystina Warren of Mattawan, MI and Lindsey Pineda of Kalamazoo, MI, nephews, A.J. Blaker of Hillsdale, MI and Lucas Pineda of Kalamazoo, two great nieces Kiyah Warren of Mattawan, MI and Izzi McCue of Alameda, CA and great nephew, Manny Pineda of Portage.

Cremation has taken place, and a celebration of life will be held at 600 Kitchen and Bar, 600 E. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49007, on Sunday, October 13, 2024, from 4-8 PM. Please consider making contributions in Andrew’s name to The Billy Pease Foundation or any local nonprofit animal rescue.