Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Simon, Mark Alan October 17, 2017
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Pat Currigan currigan1932@comcast.net July 31, 2020, 8:11 am

Ionia Sentinel Standard-Tues. Oct. 24, 2017

MARK SIMON, 56
Mark Alan Simon, 56, died peacefully on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017, at Portland 
Assisted living and Memory Care Center with Sparrow Hospice Care after 
battling melanoma of the brain for a year.

Mark was born Jan. 6, 1961, in Lansing to william and Mary Ann Simon. He grew 
up in a loving, close-knit family with one sister and three brothers in 
Portland. Mark was an all American boy growing up; excelling academically and 
playing football, basketball, and Baseball. He graduated high school in 1979 
from Portland St. Patrick School. He was also a member of the Knights of 
Columbus. He was set up on a blind date with the love of his life, Christine 
Avery. Mark and Chris married at Portland St. Patrick Church on Oct. 25, 
1986. In 1983, Mark earned his associated degree in business administration 
and marketing from Lansing Community College. He worked toward a bachelor's 
degree at Northwood University and Ferris State University before deciding to 
work full time on the assembly line at General Motors. while laid off at GM 
for seven years, Mark worked as a manager at Meijer's. During this time Mark 
and Chris bought a forever home in Portland and celebrated the birth of their 
three children.  

Mark enjoyed supporting his children at sporting events, gardening with his 
wife, celebrating holidays with family, playing DJ at work and family get-
togethers. Listening to classic rock, commentating movies, traveling out 
west, camping, visiting lighthouses, taking pictures and videos, and playing 
with his beloved dogs.

Mark was a friend to everyone he met. He was easy to talk to and his smile 
and laugh were contagious. He put others needs and wants above his own.

Mark was hard working. He worked over 30 years on the assembly line at 
General Motors so that he could provide his family the best chance of living 
comfortably.

Mark was brave, strong, and stoic. Even after losing his vision and his 
ability to walk, Mark never complained. He tried to protect others from the 
burden of his suffering, even when the burden became too much to bear. In his 
passing, he no longer needs to bear such affliction.

Mark is survived by his wife, Christien Ann-Avery Simon; children Heather 
(George) Cassel, Nicole (Justin) Schafer, and Cameron Simon; father, William 
(Sandra Olson) Simon; father and mother-in-law, Lyle and Erika Avery; 
siblings, Marlene (Mike Keusch) McAllister, Michael (Christina) Simon, Bryon 
(Leona) Simon, and Pat (Sally) Simon; sister and brother-in-law, Catharine 
and Mark Haworth; nephews, Scott (Jennifer) Pugh, Michael Pugh, David 
(Andrea) McAllister, Jeff (Emiy), Erik Simon, Christopher Simon, Stephen 
Simon, Michael Simon, Jordan Simn, Michael Haworth and Matthew Haworth; 
nieces, Dawn(Daniel) Pugh, Audra (Daniel) Keefer, Ashley (Jim) Fenlon, and 
Marianna Simon; aunt, Rosemary Simon; Uncle Oswald and Aunt Monika 
Galinaitis; and beloved pets Teddy and Zoey.

Mark is preceded by his mother, Mary Ann Simon; maternal grandparents, 
Michael and Elizabeth Smith; paternal grandparents, Arthur and Martha (Fox) 
Simon; Robert and Dorothy Goodman; Elgin and Mabel Smith, Carl and Susan 
Smith, Floyd and Helen Smith, Richard and Mary Lou Smith, Richard Simon, 
Thomas and Bernie Simon, John and Mary Ann Simon.

Thank you to family and friends for helping make Mark's home safe for him 
after his surgery, watching Mark so that Chris could work, sending cards, 
food, gift certificates and monetary donations visiting Mark, and for all of 
the well wishes and prayers.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Larry King at 11 a.m. 
on Monday , Oct. 23, at St. Patrick Catholic church, Portland. Rite of 
committal will follow at Portland Cemetery. The family will receive friends 
on Sunday from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at the Lehman Funeral Home, 210 E. 
Bridge St., Portland. The rosary will be prayed on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the 
funeral chapel. A luncheon will follow the funeral service at the Portland 
Knights of Columbus Hall. for those wishing contributions may be made to the 
Fr. Flohe Foundation or for the family's wishes in honor of Mark. 

Arrangements are entrusted to Lehman Funeral Homes. Online condolences may be 
made at lehmanfuneralhomes.com

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