Obituaries

Mark R. Hudecek

Wednesday, November 4, 2009 10:15 AM EST

Age 52, of Owosso, passed over to his Father in Heaven on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009, after a six-year battle with Stage 4 colo-rectal cancer. He refused to let this disease keep him down and interfere with his honorable duty as a husband and father to his devoted wife and boys, Bo and Brett, and he won. Bo and Brett were his pride and joy. His support and inspiration for all they did was unending.

Mark worked for the State of Michigan as a mechanical state building inspector, and dearly loved the people he worked with. He was involved in the “Relay for Life” many years before his illness and continued to do so up until his passing.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, with Bishop Fred Brown officiating. The family will receive friends at Nelson-House Funeral Home on Thursday from 1 to 8 p.m.

Mark was born on Aug. 19, 1957, in Lansing, the son of Robert and Mary (Shultz) Hudecek. He graduated from Ovid-Elsie High School with the class of 1974. He then attended Michigan State University and later served in the United States Marine Corps as a Sergeant from 1977 to 1980, immediately becoming an expert rifle shooter. Following boot camp in San Diego, he coached at the Rifle Range in Camp Pendleton, Calif., and went overseas to Japan after a year. He always said the Marine Corps had a huge impact on his life.

Mark's biggest love was learning everything about the Civil War. He could tell you anything about any battle or general you could name. The heroism and faith of these men humbled him. Mark was a true Republican, devoted Spartan and enjoyed all sports through and through. He had a gift and love for animals, the compassion of a saint and was a peacemaker, devoted to his beliefs, and he lived them honorably. He was an inspiration to all and was the bravest man we ever knew.

On April 6, 1991, he married Lisa Melling in Corunna. He supported his family's membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

He is survived by the love of his life, his treasured wife just short of 30 years, Lisa; sons Bo and Brett; parents Robert and Mary Hudecek of Knoxville, Tenn.; brothers Brad Hudecek of Arizona, Michael (Terri) Hudecek of Toledo, Ohio, and Scott (Gina) Hudecek of Sun Prarrie, Wis.; sister Kristi (Neil) Stambersky of Ovid; sisters-in-law Valerie Miersma of Bath, Lorena (David) Isham of Las Vegas, Nev., Judy (James) George of Chesaning, Helen Hunneycutt of Saginaw, and Jenny (Roy Oldman) Zwick of Ovid; many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions are suggested to an educational fund for his sons, Bo and Brett.