Robert Mareck

Robert Mareck died on December 22, 2021 from lung cancer, which he chose not to treat. He is the last of a Minnesota farm family and is survived by Mary, his wife of 50 years, many nieces and nephews as well as Mary's family in Georgia and North Carolina. Bob engaged in many endeavors over his 89 years of life. In his youth he lived for a time as a monk, then undertook a long life in academia, both in teaching and librarianship. Based on a dissertation in paleography, he maintained an interest in preservation and started a sideline in bookbinding. Spires Bindery was a successful operation for about 10 years. Later he opened a workshop in woodworking, specializing in segmented woodturning. After retirement, he and Mary moved to Arizona where they became acquainted with the fraught issues of immigration and water scarcity. He wrote a novel, Desert Fountainhead by Marek Friedl ( a pseudonym), about these issues which appeared in the final year of his life. Throughout his life Bob maintained an interest in science and theology, especially cosmology and evolution. Mary and Bob traveled a good deal to many national parks, Russia, the Czech Republic, Costa Rica, England , and the Mediterranean as well as the Panama Canal. He also spent some time hiking and climbing, summitting the peaks of 3 14,000 ft mountains in Colorado. They also joined several Elderhostel programs around the US. A Memorial Service for Bob Mareck will be Friday, January 7 at 2:30 at St. John's Catholic Church 327 MAC Ave., East Lansing, MI 48823. Visitation will be at 1:30 with a reception to follow the service at the church. Masks are highly recommended in the building. A Memorial service will be held in St. Cloud, MN in late June, 2022 for the Minnesota family. Those wishing to remember Bob can do so by contributions to the Vincent De Paul , Cristo Rey Church, 201 W. Miller Rd Lansing MI 48911 or Hospice of Lansing 3186 Pine Tree Road Lansing, MI 48911. We would also like to thank Bill our Sparrow Hospice Home RN, the staff at the Stoneleigh Residence of the Hospice of Lansing , especially Dr. James LaBerge, as well as the many friends and family who gave us their love, care and support during this difficult time. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Robert Mareck, please visit our flower store.