The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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April 6, 2009

Lowell Andreas dies

By Tim Krohn

MANKATO — The man who helped grow Archer Daniels Midland into an international giant and who donated tens of millions of dollars to Mankato colleges, hospitals and other endeavors has died.

Lowell W. Andreas, 87, died Saturday at his home in Mankato.

After World War II, Lowell and brother Dwayne purchased Honeymead in Mankato, growing it to the largest soybean processing plant in the country. They sold it in the 1960s and bought a bank in the Twin Cities.

They were asked to join ADM where Lowell served as president for six years before retiring. But he remained on the board of directors until recently and always maintained an office in the Mankato ADM plant.

Dwayne took over as president and led ADM for 25 years until retiring in 1997.

ADM, with sales of $70 billion last year, is the world leader in processing soybean oil and the largest producer of ethanol in the world.

Lowell was born in Lisbon, Iowa, and majored in philosophy at the University of Iowa.

Lowell and his wife, Nadine, donated to a variety of groups, most notably the arts at Minnesota State University and Immanuel St. Joseph’s Mayo Health System.

They donated $4 million toward the $14 million Andreas Cancer Center being built at ISJ.

In 2007, Lowell and other family members donated $7.5 million to MSU for an endowment in the name of Nadine, who died in 2005 at age 82.

“Nadine had a deep love for the arts, especially theatre,” Lowell said at the time of the gift.

Nadine was born in West Liberty, Iowa, and attended the University of Minnesota, where she performed in theater productions and developed a love of the arts.

The couple also funded the Andreas Theatre in the Performing Arts Center and provided the naming gift for the Andreas Observatory on campus.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church in Mankato. A private burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to the Andreas Cancer Center at ISJ. Mankato Mortuary is handling arrangements.

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