Andrea was helping her aunt with driving to California. They made it there safely but it was when they were coming home that was the problem. Andrea drove that night until 3:00 a.m. and then it was her aunt’s turn to drive. While her aunt was driving she fell asleep at the wheel, causing the jeep to flip. Andrea was thrown from the vehicle. She never had a chance – she was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Andrea was a senior at Dubuque Senior High School and had plans of furthering her education in art, with dreams of being a storyboard artist. She was a caring, free-spirited person who loved music and spending time with her friends.

Andrea talked about her dreams of marrying her fiancé, Andrew “Andy” Peterson, on a beach so that she could run into the ocean after the ceremony.

Andrea was only eighteen years of age. She had her whole life ahead of her and now all that is gone for her and for the family as well. Our family has had a huge part of our life taken away from us, it hurts every day. I still cry, I can’t talk about her without crying. Her brothers lost their sister and their friend and they are now closer to each other than before. My husband keeps things inside only letting his feelings out sometimes.

She will forever be loved and missed by all those who knew her. She will never be forgotten.