Mark Stephen John Michel
May 18, 1956 - January 29, 2018
The family sadly announces Mark's passing at home in Estevan, Sask. on Monday, January 29, 2018 at the age of 61 years.
Left to cherish precious memories of Mark are his wife Wanda (Mosley); son Joshua; daughter Jenna (Travis); siblings, Richard (Audrey) Michel, David (Elizabeth) Michel and Charles (Alexis) Michel; brothers and sisters-in-law, Patricia (Bryan) Kolke, Murray Mosley, Danny (Linda) Mosley, Paula (Stan) Lainton, Donald Van De Woestyne, Andrea (John) Corrigan, Carla (James) Ferguson and Jeff (Brenda) Mosley, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents, John and Dorothy (Burner) Michel; sister Judy Gowen; mother and father-in-law Frank and Magdalene (Messer) Mosley and sister-in-law Marina Van De Woestyne.
To those who knew Mark well, he was regarded as a Legend. From a very young age he lived every moment fearlessly and let nothing stand in his way. His infectious desire to entertain carried throughout his lifetime. He loved music and it seem to come so naturally to him. There wasn't a song he didn't know the words to and it didn't seem to matter what era the music came from. Being left handed he had to learn to play instruments his own way. He wanted to drum, he learned how to on his own. He wanted to learn how to play guitar so he snuck into his brother's room took his brother's right handed guitar and taught himself how to play it upside down and backwards. That same determination followed him his entire life.
As a young teenager, he was welcomed into the home of the Worsnops who got him interested in the sport of powerlifting. Before long he had provincial records and went on to become a very successful and well known lifter in the powerlifting world. He stayed dedicated to this sport his entire life and was the first athlete to be inducted into the Saskatchewan Powerlifting Hall of Fame. Mark was an energy that never stopped.
Besides his music and athletics, he had a great love and respect for the outdoors. He loved to go fishing with his dad in his youth and that love became a passion as he grew older along with hunting, hiking and exploring. Mark was a kind and generous man. He would fight for those who couldn't fight for themselves. He would pay for random people's groceries and take fish and meat to people who couldn't afford it. When he would be downtown on a cold winters day, he would grab a shovel and clear the sidewalk in front of someone's store. He had such a gift for story telling and corny jokes and it didn't take much encouragement to get him going. He loved to make people laugh. His deepest love and devotion was to his family. His strength, kindness, passions and love shines brightly in his children.
The Prayer Service was held on Friday, February 2, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Hall Funeral Services, Estevan. The Funeral Mass was celebrated on Saturday, February 3, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at St. John the Baptist R.C. Church, Estevan, by Rev. Sathiadas Antony. Interment followed at Souris Valley Memorial Gardens, after which a time of fellowship and refreshments was held in the church auditorium.
We would like to thank all those who took the time to visit, text, and call him over the last few years. As well we would like to thank all those who gave him care and most especially to Dr. Christie and to his naturopath, Dr. Toby Bridgman who gave us hope and alternatives to allow us more time with him. Also a big thank you to the EMS team who treated him with so much respect and kindness and who helped us when there was no where else to turn. These men and women are a team of professionals we could all learn from. We would also like to thank all our family and friends who gave us support through this journey of strength.
If friends so desire, donations in Mark’s memory may be made to Saskatoon Naturopathic Medicine (for Mark Michel medical bursary), 14 - 118 Cope Crescent, Saskatoon, Sask., S7T 0X3.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Hall Funeral Services, Estevan.
