Andrew John Ninfo

Andrew (Andy) Ninfo peacefully passed away in Appleton, Wisconsin, surrounded by his loving family. Born on September 16, 1950, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he was the son of John Ninfo and Carol Guszinski.

Andy graduated from Custer High School in Milwaukee in 1968. Following graduation, he proudly served in the United States Armed Forces as an Combat Engineer Repair Specialist in Dachau, Germany and Panama. During his service, he earned a National Defense Service Medal and a Sharpshooter Badge before his discharge in 1971.

On a chilly February day in 1975, Andy married the love of his life, Debbie Zastrow. The couple settled on a five-acre farm in Watertown, Wisconsin, where they raised their two children, Carey and Ross. Andy fully embraced farm life, helping Debbie with her horses, raising freezer beef and lending a hand to any neighbor in need. They were married a total of 47 wonderful years.

In 1979, Andy began a successful 26-year career as a Journeyman Tool and Die Maker at Johnson Controls. His expertise included building robotic automation lines and fabricating, repairing and maintaining precision tools and dies used in manufacturing processes. He was skilled at reading blueprints, operating various machines—including CNC—and ensuring high-quality finished products, often utilizing Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software. Prior to his retirement, he also contributed his skills at K&S Tools.

In 2020, Andy and Debbie moved from the farm to Appleton to spend more time with their grandchildren, a decision that brought him immense joy. He enjoyed baking cinnamon rolls and his signature stuffed mushrooms. In his free time, he loved fishing, playing sheepshead, tinkering on various projects, and watching the Brewers and Packers. He cheered the loudest at his grandkids' soccer games and took pleasure in riding motorcycles, snowmobiling, and problem-solving technical challenges. Andy found peace in the serenity of Post Lake and relished traveling the country on vacations in an RV caravan with his family.

Andy was preceded in death by his wife, Debbie Ninfo, his sister Barbara Zastrow, his parents John and Patricia Ninfo, and stepbrother Harvey Evans and nephew Kenny Ulickey.

He is survived by his children, Carey (Chad) Behnke and Ross Ninfo, as well as his grandchildren Sophie and Norah Behnke. He is also remembered by his brothers-in-law Larry Zastrow and Rich Mascari, sister-in-law Karla Mascari, stepsiblings Margaret Kapis, Linda Myers, Patty (Greg) Stabbe, Dennis Evans, Susan Ignatius, Kathy Evans, along with several nieces and nephews including Tanya Zastrow, Tracy (Andy, Jordan, Ashley) Edwards, Jason (Tricia, Ahlizah, Scotti, Sami, Oliver, Artemis), Eric (Jenny, Ava, Nina, Braden) Mascari, Tricia (Brian) Mauer, Tim, and Tommy Stabbe.

A celebration of life will be held at 1PM, on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at the Wichmann Funeral Home, 537 N. Superior St., Appleton. Visitation will be held on Saturday at the funeral home from 11:30AM until the time of the celebration.