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Marcel (Mike) Defever
Born: 11/21/1930
Died: 5/8/2018
Age: 87
Community: Davison, MI
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DEFEVER, Marcel (Mike) Alberic – age 87, died peacefully in his sleep at his residence in Pennsylvania on May 8, 2018. He was born November 21, 1930 in Merkem, Belgium, the eldest of four children of Gaston and Godlieve (Debyser) Defever. While working on his family’s farm, Mike read about farmland in Michigan and in1952 visited and worked for a Belgian family in Ashley, MI; solidifying his dreams to move to the United States. On July 6, 1955, Mike married Alice Angelique Van Parijs and they immigrated to the United States to farm and raise a family. Having lived first in Lennon and Goodrich, Mike finally settled his family in Davison in 1964; working first as a farmer, then as Greens Superintendent for Spring Meadows Golf Course for 22 years, and finally as owner/operator of Defever’s Lawn Care business. As a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Mike was an active council member, Eucharistic Minister, and Liturgist for many years. Passionate about education, Mike served on the Davison Board of Education for over ten years and wrote several education columns for local papers during his tenure. He and his wife, Alice, were also involved in Right to Life, Farm Bureau, and the International Institute of Flint; never really leaving behind their heritage of farming or homeland. Mike had a wide circle of friends within the church and community – especially those of the ‘Wednesday Night’ group and his fellow ‘monks’ with whom he participated in many memorable acts.
Mike is survived by their eight children, Marianne Reeves (Franklin, TN), Guido and Lynda (Beaupre) Defever (Cogan Station, PA), Marleen and Vincent Verlhac (France), Leanne and Steve Swarts (Archer, FL), Christiana and David Weiner (Germantown, MD), Diana and Allan Webster (Lorton, VA), Nelly and William Heitman (Traverse City, MI), Rosemary and Daniel Patient (Novi, MI); 25 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; his sister and her husband, Alma and Hendrik Cnudde (Durand, MI) and numerous nieces and nephews. Marcel was preceded in death by his loving wife, Alice, in 2010; his parents; brothers Herve and Roger; sisters-in-law Philo and Louise. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Grand Central Station, P. O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 12 Noon Saturday, May 19, 2018 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 404 N. Dayton St., Davison; Rev. Andrew A. Czajkowski, celebrant. Burial will follow in St. John Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be 5-8 PM Friday at Allen Funeral Home, 9136 Davison Rd., Davison. A Rosary will be prayed at 7 PM on Friday. On Saturday, there will be visitation at the church for one hour prior to the Mass.
Please share your thoughts with the family at www.allenfuneralhomeinc.com.
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| Visitation |
| Date: |
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5/18/2018 |
| Time: |
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5:00 PM |
5-8 PM May 18, 2018 at Allen Funeral Home
11 AM-12 PM May 19, 2018 at church |
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| Funeral Service |
| Date: |
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5/19/2018 |
| Time: |
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12:00 PM |
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| Location: |
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Allen Funeral Home
404 N. Dayton St.
Davison, MI 48423Get a Map to this location...
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| Official: |
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Rev. Fr. Andrew A. Czajkowski |
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