Andrew Francis Rajner, Sr., 89, was born in Toledo on September 16, 1925, the son of Peter and Mary Rajner. He attended grade school at Holy Rosary and high school at Waite, leaving to join the U. S. Merchant Marine in 1943, where he served on general cargo vessels and tankships carrying war materiel for the Southwest Pacific. In 1944, while aboard a Liberty ship in the Gulf of Leyte, Philippine Islands, a 12 year old Filipino boy fell overboard and was being washed out to sea. Andy dove into the water to rescue the boy, and the first small boat to come to their aid was run by a childhood friend from Toledo who was on an Army landing craft. His final service was aboard a converted Victory ship taking repatriated German and Italian prisoners of war back to Europe and bringing American troops home; he completed his service in 1946. After the war, he returned to Toledo and worked for Shortway Bus Lines from 1947 to 1949; the Gulf Oil Refinery from 1949 to 1952; and the LOF Thermopane plant from 1952 to 1957, when he returned to Great Lakes sailing with Oglebay Norton Company. Andy was licensed in 1959 by the U. S. Coast Guard as a First Class Pilot for all five Great Lakes, and 1959 he also earned his initial officer'™s license, starting as Third Mate and working up to a Master'™s license in March 1976. Andy retired on December 17, 1987 with the last 12 years as Captain. During his Lakes service, he served on many vessels that regularly called at the Port of Toledo, completing his career as Master of the Fred R. White. In 1975, Andy had served briefly on the steamer Edmund Fitzgerald as relief First Mate, leaving the ship just prior to its tragic loss. He was called to testify in Cleveland as a witness at the Coast Guard'™s Marine Casualty Investigation into the sinking, as he possessed some of the most recent experience as an officer aboard the vessel. Andy was a member of Holy Rosary parish until it closed and later St. Ignatius parish, and was a retired member of the International Ship Masters Association. He greatly enjoyed golfing, bowling and, above all, his family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Mary Rajner; infant twin daughters Mary Jean and Mary Jane Rajner; daughter Janice (Tom) Fuller; and brothers Edward Danko, Frank Kislin, and Joseph, George, and Albert Rajner. Andy is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Esther; daughter Diane (J. P.) Smith; sons Andrew Jr., David (Cheryl), and Allen (Lisa) Rajner; 16 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. Friends may call at the Eggleston Meinert & Pavley Funeral Home, Oregon Chapel, 440 S. Coy Road, on Sunday, October 26, 2014 from 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Funeral services will be conducted Monday, October 27, 2014 at 11:30 am in the funeral home. Private interment will take place. Expressions of sympathy may be directed to St. Ignatius Catholic Church or Hospice of Northwest Ohio.