NEWTON, N.C. - Michael Warren Andrus, 48, of Newton, passed away on Friday, October 11, 2024 at Catawba Valley Medical Center.

He was born October 23, 1975 in DuPage County, Ill. to Dawn Brownlee Andrus of Laingsburg, Mich. Michael was a member of New Life Authentic Christian Community in Conover. Words cannot adequately describe how loving, smart, funny, and hard-working Mike was. He put God first in everything, and family was always his number one priority. In 2020, he felt an urgent calling to move the family out of the Charlotte suburbs onto a 33-acre farm in Newton. He quit the 8-5 and quickly went to work turning the abandoned property into a thriving farm full of chickens, geese, goats, and pigs. Being raised in Chicago, he did not have a farming background, but he learned quickly. The home quickly became a hands-on learning experience for his children as they raised baby chicks and piglets, learned to build structures, sell items at farmers markets, and process their own food. Mike did more in 3-years than most people accomplish in a decade. He loved all of the animals, giving each and every one of them names. He spent 3-years working 16-hour days, never taking a day off, because his goal was to provide self-sufficiency, healthy food, and a legacy for his wife and children. He believed in a dream of a real Christian community outside of the confines of a broken culture, and he fell in love with the system of permaculture since he believed it could be a real and attainable solution. Though he never got to see the property become what he envisioned, he learned so much along the way. Furthermore, the experiences and time spent with his wife and children on the farm were priceless.

Mike was a faithful and loving husband who did what God commanded in loving his wife as Jesus loved the church. He was a devoted father, always willing to stop whatever he was doing to focus on what his children needed. He was a loving son, a giving friend, and an all-around unique and wonderful human being. To spend a couple of hours hearing Mike talk about the Bible would leave a person changed and contemplating things they never would have before. His love for Jesus infused every decision, and his faith never faltered even as his health declined and his body betrayed him. The world is an emptier place without Mike here on it, but Heaven has truly gained an amazing man that we all will miss dearly until we meet again. He will be forever loved by his family and never forgotten.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Melvin and Darlene Brownlee.

Those left to cherish his memory is his wife of 11-years Melissa Brownstein Andrus of the home; sons Elijah Andrus of Newton, Benjamin Andrus of Newton; daughters Ava Stucker of Newton, Isabel Alge of Huntersville; mother Dawn Brownlee Andrus and husband Charles of Laingsburg, Mich.; sisters Kimberly Calliari and husband Joseph of Sun Prairie, Wis. and Crystal Andrus of Verona, Wis.

A service to celebrate Mike’s life will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 2 p.m. at New Life Authentic Christian Community in Conover. Rev. Chris Gruver will officiate. Burial will follow at Southside Cemetery in Newton. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 1-:45 p.m. at New Life Authentic Christian Community.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to New Life Authentic Christian Community, 4639 County Home Rd., Conover, NC 28613

Condolences may be sent to the Andrus family at www.bennettfuneralservice.com

Bennett Funeral Service of Newton, N.C. is serving the Andrus family.