Champion – Mark A. "Grizzly Bear" Hamel, age 65, of 745 Co. Rd. AI, Champion went to be with the Lord on Friday, September 6, 2019 while undergoing treatment at the UPMC-Passavant hospital in Pittsburgh, PA.

Mark was born in Ishpeming on July 23, 1954 son of Patricia M. (Duhame) and the late Arthur W. "Bucko" Hamel.  Mark married the former Natalie Hupp at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Champion 42 years ago.  Mark worked for the Marquette Co. Road Commission for 25 years, retiring as a working foreman in 2014.  Mark also owned and operated Hamel Septic for over 30 years.  He was a proud member of the Champion Volunteer Fire Department for 43 years where he had served as Chief.

Mark was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He served as a Trustee for Champion Township for several years. In his spare time, Mark enjoyed time spent fishing with his buddies, but in recent years spending that time with his granddaughters became paramount in his life.

Survivors include his wife Natalie M. Hamel of Champion; two daughters, Jenny (John Nordeen) Hamel of Marquette and Linda (Chris) Pelkola of Champion; 3 granddaughters - Natalie, Heidy and Britney; his mother Pat Hamel of Ishpeming; four sisters - Susan (Richard) Thibeault of Ishpeming; Merry (Ray) Ringuette of Republic; Leslie (Roger) Herman of Ishpeming and Becky (Donnie) Heliste of Ishpeming; two brothers - John (Susan) Hamel and Jeff Hamel both of Champion; sister-in-law Cheryl Hamel of Champion; along with numerous nieces and nephews. Mark was preceded in death by his father Arthur "Bucko" Hamel, a brother Paul Hamel, his In-laws Layton and Beverly Hupp, sister-in-law Debra Hupp and brother in law Daniel Hupp.

The family will greet relatives and friends from 11:00am – 1:00pm on Wednesday, September 11, 2019 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Champion.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00pm on Wednesday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Champion with Fr. Dan Moll to officiate.  Interment will take place at the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Champion.  A luncheon will follow the services in the church hall. The Champion Volunteer Fire Dept will stand honor guard and pallbearers will be John and Jeff Hamel, Alan LaCosse, Roy "Goober" Pascoe, Jeremy Bowen and Jason Heikkila.

Mark's obituary may also be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.

A recording of Mark's service may be listened to here.