Mark Allen Bevevino
December 13th, 1953 - November 13th, 2023
Share Book of Memories with a Friend
Please enter the name and email details so that we can send your friend a link to the online tribute. No names or addresses will be collected by using this service.
Mark's Obituary
Maybe the only guy to ever sweat through the knot of his tie, or rip an entire deck of cards in half, or have a chili dog serve as placeholder for his obituary photo. Certainly the only guy to fill his friends and family, and even strangers, with his particular brand of excessive humor and love.
Mark Allen Bevevino, age 69, died Monday, November 13, 2023 – just one month shy of his 70th birthday – at his residence in South Haven, MI.
Visitation will be held on Friday, November 17, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at Filbrandt Chapel, 1076 S. Bailey Ave, South Haven, Michigan 49090. Visitation will continue at Filbrandt Chapel on Saturday November 18, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the Memorial Service at 11:00 a.m. Pastor Tina Hawkins will officiate.
Mark was born in Ashtabula, OH on December 13, 1953 to David and Janice (née Wagner) Bevevino. He grew up (and left his heart) in Clarion, PA, where he attended Clarion High School before graduating from Clarion University with a degree in History Education. He spent much of his boyhood in Clarion with his best friend and brother D.J., his sisters Janie and Lori, and a group of neighborhood buddies who would provide fodder for lore which had listeners wondering how in the world they survived.
Mark met his wife, Jean (née Hawkins), while in college, where he spent many of his hours skipping class in favor of playing cards in the Union. Jean would encourage him to clean up his act (forever, and to marginal success) but couldn’t help being charmed by his larger-than-life presence, sense of humor and – if you can believe it – good looks. They would have been married 50 years this June.
Jean and Mark made their home in several states including New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Michigan, and Illinois, while raising three children: Amy, Matt, and A.J.. Mark worked primarily in sales and later training for Kraft Foods. While all these relocations could be hard on the family, the growing pains resulted in an unimaginable network of friends. Friends who will miss hearing stories (and re-hearing stories), playing cards, getting whooped at trivia, and having genuine conversation. He never forgot a single one of them and could likely tell you their parents’ names and maybe even which streets they grew up on.
Following his time at Kraft, where he spent a total of 30 years making lifelong friends, Mark would retire and then spend many happy years in South Haven, MI where he was thrilled to assume his role as “Papa.” Papa enjoyed his grandchildren the most in his later years. He loved to regale anyone who would listen with funny stories about them or tales of their successes. He loved to surprise them with unique coins as gifts and to make them laugh and feel special.
Mark will be remembered for being as quick with his wit as he was to well up when touched; for his love of storytelling, music and crossword puzzles; for his knowledge of trivia, history, and sports; for his competitive nature; for his spirited delivery of jokes; and most of all, for his pride in the family he created. He would often remark of how he very intentionally chose the life of “family man” and never regretted it a day. He struggled with illness in his life and was taken too soon from those who loved him, most especially his lifelong foil, caretaker, and true best friend, Jean. We all hope he’s watching the Bills, or Steelers, or Lions, or Red Wings, (etc.) compete, eating all the meats in abundance, winning every hand of Euchre, and enjoying a new audience for his stories.
He was a dear son, brother, uncle, cousin, father to Amy Bevevino (Shane), Matthew Bevevino (Kristi), A.J. Bevevino (Laurie), grandfather “Papa” to Bryan Bevevino, Jonathan Bevevino, Lucy O’Dell, Franklin O’Dell, Benny Bevevino, and Leo Bevevino. Mark will be received by those who preceded him, including his beloved parents, father-in-law, and many treasured aunts and uncles.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Heart Association. Arrangements have been entrusted to Filbrandt Chapel-Starks Family Funeral Homes and Cremation Services. 269-637-0333.
Mark Allen Bevevino, age 69, died Monday, November 13, 2023 – just one month shy of his 70th birthday – at his residence in South Haven, MI.
Visitation will be held on Friday, November 17, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at Filbrandt Chapel, 1076 S. Bailey Ave, South Haven, Michigan 49090. Visitation will continue at Filbrandt Chapel on Saturday November 18, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the Memorial Service at 11:00 a.m. Pastor Tina Hawkins will officiate.
Mark was born in Ashtabula, OH on December 13, 1953 to David and Janice (née Wagner) Bevevino. He grew up (and left his heart) in Clarion, PA, where he attended Clarion High School before graduating from Clarion University with a degree in History Education. He spent much of his boyhood in Clarion with his best friend and brother D.J., his sisters Janie and Lori, and a group of neighborhood buddies who would provide fodder for lore which had listeners wondering how in the world they survived.
Mark met his wife, Jean (née Hawkins), while in college, where he spent many of his hours skipping class in favor of playing cards in the Union. Jean would encourage him to clean up his act (forever, and to marginal success) but couldn’t help being charmed by his larger-than-life presence, sense of humor and – if you can believe it – good looks. They would have been married 50 years this June.
Jean and Mark made their home in several states including New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Michigan, and Illinois, while raising three children: Amy, Matt, and A.J.. Mark worked primarily in sales and later training for Kraft Foods. While all these relocations could be hard on the family, the growing pains resulted in an unimaginable network of friends. Friends who will miss hearing stories (and re-hearing stories), playing cards, getting whooped at trivia, and having genuine conversation. He never forgot a single one of them and could likely tell you their parents’ names and maybe even which streets they grew up on.
Following his time at Kraft, where he spent a total of 30 years making lifelong friends, Mark would retire and then spend many happy years in South Haven, MI where he was thrilled to assume his role as “Papa.” Papa enjoyed his grandchildren the most in his later years. He loved to regale anyone who would listen with funny stories about them or tales of their successes. He loved to surprise them with unique coins as gifts and to make them laugh and feel special.
Mark will be remembered for being as quick with his wit as he was to well up when touched; for his love of storytelling, music and crossword puzzles; for his knowledge of trivia, history, and sports; for his competitive nature; for his spirited delivery of jokes; and most of all, for his pride in the family he created. He would often remark of how he very intentionally chose the life of “family man” and never regretted it a day. He struggled with illness in his life and was taken too soon from those who loved him, most especially his lifelong foil, caretaker, and true best friend, Jean. We all hope he’s watching the Bills, or Steelers, or Lions, or Red Wings, (etc.) compete, eating all the meats in abundance, winning every hand of Euchre, and enjoying a new audience for his stories.
He was a dear son, brother, uncle, cousin, father to Amy Bevevino (Shane), Matthew Bevevino (Kristi), A.J. Bevevino (Laurie), grandfather “Papa” to Bryan Bevevino, Jonathan Bevevino, Lucy O’Dell, Franklin O’Dell, Benny Bevevino, and Leo Bevevino. Mark will be received by those who preceded him, including his beloved parents, father-in-law, and many treasured aunts and uncles.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Heart Association. Arrangements have been entrusted to Filbrandt Chapel-Starks Family Funeral Homes and Cremation Services. 269-637-0333.
Memorial Contributions
Service Details
View the current service details below. Sign up for email or text updates to receive notifications of any changes to service schedules or important information.