Born on February 14, 1936, in the small town of Chilton, Wisconsin, André Weller, (baptized Joseph John), was the eldest of eight children: Helen, Rose Marie, Robert, Clarence, Arthur, Michael, and Francis. His parents, Arnold and Hildegard (Kolbe) Weller raised André in a household where hard work and faith went hand in hand. From an early age, André helped his grandparents on their farm, operating tractors and harvesters by the time he was seven or eight years old. These early years instilled in him a strong sense of responsibility and service that would define his future. André attended St. Mary's elementary school in Chilton, Wisconsin, and continued his education at the Salvatorian Minor Seminary at St. Nazianz, Wisconsin.

Feeling a call to religious life, André was invested as a Capuchin on August 31, 1954.

Making his first profession on September 1, 1955, at St. Felix Friary, Huntington, Indiana, André started his studies as a Cleric. André made his solemn profession on September 1, 1958.

In 1959, André transferred to St. Anthony Friary in Marathon, Wisconsin, to continue studies. In 1963, after his ordination on April 20 at St. Mary's Church in Marathon, Wisconsin, André entered his pastoral year at St. Francis Friary, Milwaukee. Completing his pastoral year, he transferred to St. Benedict Friary in Milwaukee and served as a Chaplain at St. Anthony Hospital. André had volunteered for the missions shortly after his ordination in 1963, but due to a reaction to the yellow fever vaccine, he stayed "state-side," and André saw this, in hindsight, as a blessing. As he ministered in Milwaukee, he saw himself becoming "emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually prepared with skills that would make it possible to see Jesus in all 'the little ones, the powerless and voiceless' in the next forty-five years of ministry in different parts of the world."

Before embarking on his missionary work, André spent time in Mexico, where he learned the basics of Spanish—an essential skill for the road ahead. Then, in January 1967, he received his first assignment: Nicaragua. Arriving in Managua on January 10, 1967, he spent a night adjusting to the intense heat before setting off for Condega the following day, a place he had never heard of before. A town of potters and farmers, Condega was far removed from the cold Wisconsin climate he had known all his life. To make things more surreal, his arrival coincided with a historic snowfall in Mexico City, an event that made headlines worldwide. While the Mexican capital lay buried under snow, Condega basked in the sun, welcoming the young Capuchin with sweltering warmth—both in climate and in spirit.

From the moment he set foot in Condega, André began laying the foundation for his mission. He had come with a purpose: to uplift the community through faith, education, and social development. Recognizing the urgent need for secondary education, André worked with local teachers and parents to establish the first secondary school in Condega. In April 1968, the first classes began in community members' homes, with 20 to 30 students. As more students enrolled, it became clear that a dedicated school building was necessary. By 1969, steps were taken to secure land for what would become the Instituto de Condega. By 1970, the school offered first-, second-, and third-year classes, with plans to expand further. The sixth-grade graduates of 1970 transitioned into the new high school program in 1971; by 1975, the town celebrated its first high school graduation. Graduations continued, but political turmoil was rising in Nicaragua. The insurrection against the Somoza regime intensified, making it increasingly dangerous for foreign missionaries. As tensions escalated in 1978, André fell ill with typhoid fever. It was decided it was best to return to the United States for medical treatment. Though reluctant to leave, he ensured that every detail of his work was in order before departing.

After recovering, André was assigned to the Middle East, where he worked with foreign workers from 1978 to 1985. In 1985, he went to Palestine to serve as director of the Pontifical Mission for Palestine. In 1988, he returned to the United States for a sabbatical year before serving as pastor in the Maternity of Blessed Virgin Mary parish in Chicago from 1989 to 1991.

In October of 1991, André embarked on another mission—this time to Chepo, Panama, a region with strikingly similar challenges to those he had encountered in Condega. André worked tirelessly to improve education, social services, and community development. André worked with teen moms, the elderly, indigenous communities, people facing disabilities, learning difficulties, and addiction. "All these wonderful persons showed me how much God loves each of us as we reach out to one another."

In February 2014, André retired from active ministry. He was first stationed at Casa San José in Tucson, Arizona, and then a year later at San José Friary in Chicago, until he moved to St. Fidelis Friary in Appleton, Wisconsin, in May 2021.

André entered hospice care in February of 2025 and died peacefully on the eve of the Feast of St. Joseph, Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

André is preceded in death by his parents, Arnold and Hildegard (Kolbe) Weller. He is survived by all his siblings, Helen, Rose Marie, Robert, Clarence, Arthur, Michael, and Francis, and his Capuchin brothers, with whom he lived, prayed and ministered for over seven decades.

A Liturgy Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at the St. Lawrence Seminary Chapel, 301 Church Street, Mount Calvary, Wisconsin 53057. Burial will take place in the St. Lawrence Friary Cemetery later this spring.

Visitation: Family and friends may visit the St. Lawrence Seminary Chapel on Wednesday morning, March 26th from 9:00 AM until 9:45 AM.

The funeral service will be live-streamed and will be made available online for later viewing at www.thecapuchins.org.

For further information, please contact the Sippel Funeral Home in St. Cloud, Wisconsin (920) 999-2291 or visit www.sippelfuneralhome.net