Mark Dale LaFave (Julio), age 47, a Lansing City resident, passed away on Friday, February 25th at his home.

Mark was born in Ishpeming, MI on May 30th, 1974, at F. A. Bell Memorial Hospital, son, to Dale Robert LaFave and Renee Beth (Riberdy) LaFave. He graduated from Gwinn High School.

Mark demonstrated a natural aptitude for "building things." As a boy, he built with Legos and later, became a Master Builder of super extravagant homes in the Detroit Metropolitan Area. In his excitement, he called his mother to share that he was "building a house across the street from Eminem's house." His attention to detail and proficiency at reading blueprints led him into a state of perfectionism that was rivaled by no one and elevated his title to that of a Foreman, managing his own crew. After 25 years in the trade, an accident ended the career he so loved, however, his passion and knowledge remained for his lifetime. In a decade long attempt at recovery, he was able to find satisfaction as a Technical Machine Operator for Peckham, Inc. in Lansing. There, he was surrounded by cultural diversity and was soon learning foreign languages that both enabled and pleased him to communicate with his coworkers. His giving nature, sense of humor, and presence was loved and enjoyed by many.

Mark is survived by one daughter, Haley LaFave (my princess), his mother Renee LaFave, a sister Kristen LaFave, a niece Nicole Mager, and uncle Michael (Debbie) Riberdy, several cousins and extended family members.

Mark was greeted in death by his father, recently lost in January 2022, and his "brothers" who passed before him. His ancestry can be traced for hundreds of carefully documented years. We know he is not alone but rejoicing and reuniting happily with a large family preparing for his arrival.

A dual celebration of Mark and Dale's lives will be at 2:00 PM on Saturday May 28, 2022 at Northland Chapel Gardens.