Marvin Simon

Marvin Simon was a fun loving, dedicated and trustworthy man. His family and friends respected him greatly, both for his admirable work ethic and his unconditional love. Marvin was continually guided by strong values, values that helped him make a lasting and positive impression on all the lives he touched.

The first years of the 1940s marked a tumultuous decade for America, as well as the rest of the world. In Europe, fighting erupted between Allied and Axis forces and America would soon be drawn into this conflict by the bombing of Pearl Harbor. It was into this chaotic world that Marvin was born on May 10, 1940, in Fowler, Michigan on his family’s homestead, which has been in the Simon family for over 100 years, classifying it as a Centennial Farm. Marv, as he was called, was the second youngest of six children to Oscar and Bernita (Sontag) Simon.

Like many generations before him, Marv’s father was a farmer. Meanwhile, his mother managed their home and took care of the children. Marv enjoyed a typical childhood of the time. He attended the Fowler Public Schools, and spent much of his leisure time playing baseball with the neighbor kids. He also worked along side his father on the farm, learning the tricks of the trade for his future. Marv was a good student in school, and a great athlete on the field, playing football and basketball.

It was while in high school that Marv met his sweetheart and wife-to-be, Carol Pung. She was asked by someone if she had a boyfriend, to which she jokingly replied - yep the “patrol boy” (which happened to be Marv). It wasn’t long though before it wasn’t a joke anymore, and Marv and Carol started going to dances together and dated. However, after Marv graduated from Fowler High in 1958, he followed the same patriotic calling of other young men of the time, and enlisted in the U.S. Army. After 6 months away, he came home on furlough to ask Carol to be his wife. The two were happily married on October 14, 1961, in Fowler, shortly before Marv was to be stationed in Washington. Once he was settled in Washington, Marv returned home to fetch his beautiful bride and they settled into a small apartment not far from base. Upon his honorable discharge, Marv and Carol, now 8 months pregnant, packed up and headed home to Fowler, to start their family. Over the next several years, the couple was blessed with 9 children – 7 sons: Stanley, Donald, Douglas, Thomas, Gary, Joseph and Kurt, and 2 daughters, Becky and Nancy.

Like his father, Marv was a farmer, who also worked a full day in the shop. He’d milk the cows in the morning, work in the shop, and then head home to finish the other farm chores. Eventually, Marv became a full-time dairy and hog farmer, but later concentrated on only raising dairy cattle. Marv was a pretty easygoing guy – he gave a simple answer of “yep” or “nope” to any question asked, and it was the small things in life that brought him so much joy. Marv wasn’t one to get angry either, not even when his kids (or wife) may have messed up pretty good. Like the time he was in the process of selling a cow, and Carol decided to help him out with it while he was away, and ultimately sold the wrong cow. If anything else, they had a good laugh!

Having a strong family was always important to Marv. While he was dedicated to farming, he and Carol, together with their children, created a rich and dynamic family life. He spent his life balancing hard work of a farmer with the harder work of a fun loving and devoted husband and father. Marv always took time to play ball with his boys, and attend all their school and sports activities. His favorite times, however, were when they were all lying on the floor eating popcorn and watching TV - that was until he decided to have a little fun and start a wrestling match. A big kid at heart, Marv would crack hardboiled eggs on their heads at Easter, and was the first one to get in line to ride the roller coasters at Cedar Point. They did everything together as a family, from picking up rocks in the field and going to church to sitting around and playing games, like poker and the card game “Polish Screw Your Neighbor” – their time together was precious.

Marv and Carol had a wonderful marriage. From sweethearts and best friends to husband and wife, they were a very happy couple. They prayed together, polka danced together, and when Marv had a hard time staying awake in church on Sundays, Carol was there to give him an elbow to the ribs (at which he would wake up and cross himself). Every Christmas, Marv and Carol would agree not to get each other gifts, but it never failed that the biggest present under the tree was to Carol with love from Marv. On the weekends, the couple enjoyed going out to eat, and when their boys wanted to go hunting, they would milk the cows for them and then go out to breakfast.

Marv was a proud, hardworking man, who loved his family dearly. They will miss seeing him in his favorite chair and talking with them. Although Marv will be deeply missed, his legacy of love and dedication leaves his loved ones with wonderful memories and a strong foundation to look to for comfort.

Marvin G. Simon, age 69, a loving and caring husband, father and grandfather, died on Saturday, May 8, 2010, in Carson City, Michigan. Marvin is survived by Carol, his wife of 48 years; his sons: Stanley (Judy) of Westphalia, Donald of St. Johns, Douglas (Becky) of Fowler, Thomas (Kelly) of St. Johns, Gary (Beth) of St. Johns, Joseph (Kim) of Fowler and Kurt (Lori) Simon of Westphalia; daughters, Becky (Robert) Watson of St. Johns and Nancy (James) Rademacher of Fowler; 27 grandchildren; two brothers, Roy (JoAnn) Simon of St. Johns and Ronald (Mary) Simon of Dewitt; two sisters, Phyllis Gilroy of St. Johns and Virginia Ward of Portland. Marvin was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Gerald, and grandson, Cullen.

Mass of Christian burial will be held on Thursday, May 13, at 10:30 a.m. at the Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Fowler, burial will follow at the Most Holy Cemetery with Fr. Dennis Howard presiding. The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 11, and Wednesday, May 12, at the George Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes. Rosaries will be prayed at 3 and 8 p.m. on Tuesday and 3 p.m. on Wednesday with a vigil service at 8 p.m. on Wednesday. Sympathies will be expressed to a charity of his family’s choice. Please visit Marvin’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com/memories/58572, where you may share a memory or photo with his family or sign his online guest book.