Gina Marko

Armed with a dynamic spirit and a compassionate heart, Gina Marko focused her attention on making sure others were taken care of whether her customers at work, her family, or simply those within her reach. She was no stranger to hard work, yet she understood the value of enjoying life along the way. Although Ginas life was not without struggles, she tackled the obstacles that faced her head-on time and time again. It was easy to see that her family was her greatest pride and joy, and it will be those who follow her who will keep her spirit alive. During a year in which America first heard that M Chocolate Candies melt in your mouth and not in your hand, Elvis Presley made his first record, and the TV Dinner became the newest phenomenon, 1954 was certainly a year to remember in the cultural history of the United States. This was also a significant year in the home of Raymond and Betty (Stewart) Anderson as they welcomed the birth of their daughter, Gina Lynn, on March 25th. Gina was born in Muskegon, Michigan, as the second of five children in her family. Her father worked as a lineman for Consumers Power Company while her mother was a homemaker. Gina was raised in Roosevelt Park, which is known to be a great neighborhood for families. Out of all the Anderson children, Gina was the quiet one of the bunch, and she could often be found with her nose buried between the pages of a book. She attended Campbell Elementary, Maple Grove Jr. High, and Mona Shores High School. Gina was naturally very smart and always got good grades. Money was tight in the Anderson family leaving her parents to be frugal. Vacations were few and far between, and the children all shared their bikes and other toys. Despite their financial restrictions, their family was a happy one, and Gina considered herself to have experienced a contented childhood. Great changes were in store for Gina when she entered the workforce at the age of 15. She got a job at Mr. Quick, a local hamburger restaurant that was part of a larger chain. It was while there that she met a fellow co-worker named Jon VanWyk whom she began dating. Their relationship continued through high school and during their years in college. After she graduated from high school, Gina went off to Ferris State College where she studied to become a pharmacist, and Jon went to Northern Michigan University to study business. Gina came home on weekends and during the summers to work at Straayers Drug Store in order to help pay for her education. Having fallen deeply in love, Gina and Jon were married in February of 1976. Gina finished her degree in 1977, graduating with honors from Ferris State. A short time later, Jon found work with GTE, which left them living in several places during the early years of their marriage. In 1979 they were blessed with the birth of their son, Nicholas, and they settled in Carmel, Indiana. Ginas marriage to Jon ended in divorce during the mid-eighties, and she and Nick moved back to Muskegon. Initially they lived with Ginas sister Janet for a time before finding a place of their own in Roosevelt Park. Gina worked hard as a single mother in order to support herself and her son. She worked at a couple of places before settling on the pharmacy at Meijers. Gina was a great pharmacist as she had a big heart, was incredibly kind, and just knew how to talk to her customers in order to help them. She remained at Meijers for 22 years. Life as a single mother is not without its challenges. Nick could be a handful at times, but Gina remained strong. They made a good team, too. Gina made lists of chores for him to complete when he got home from school, and he always did them. Nick regularly rode his bike to visit his mother at work, at times bringing her lunch as well. Money was always tight in their family, but every year they made a trip to Cedar Point where they had a great time together. When Nick became involved in sports, Gina tried to make it to as many of his games as she could. Through the example she set forth, Gina instilled a strong work ethic within her son, and he turned out to be not only a great kid, but a fine young man as well. In the mid-nineties, Gina began dating Dave Marko who was also a pharmacist at Meijers. On their first date they went to a hockey game, and they continued to date for a couple of years. Gina and Dave married on May 19, 1997. The following year Nick went off to Michigan State University, and Gina and Dave moved into a condo in Harbortown. They had a sailboat and loved spending time out on the water during the summers. Gina and Dave also loved to travel and through the years, they took 12 different cruises to the Caribbean, Alaska, and New England, and they also took a trip to Hawaii. They liked to spend time with their families, and Gina blended their families together wonderfully. Spending time with their grandchildren was a favorite activity, and Gina viewed Daves children as her own. She was a phenomenal cook and loved preparing dinners for the whole family. Throughout Ginas life, she struggled with alcoholism. At times she even sought treatment and got help from family members. Sometimes she was able to overcome the disease, but complete recovery was something that always eluded her. Eventually, the battle scars left behind from this unrelenting predator took their toll, and Gina was no longer able to fight. With a heart that beat to serve others, Gina Marko was a remarkable woman. Although she was book smart, learning the ways of the world did not come easily to her. Gina was known to lock her keys in the car a time or two, and her driving skills frightened her nieces at times. She never meant anyone any harm, however, and found such great joy in showering her family with her love. Gina will be dearly missed. Gina L. Marko died on Friday, January 8, 2010. Ginas family includes her husband, David of Muskegon; son, Nicholas (Melissa Landman) VanWyk of Cedar Springs; step daughters, Tonya (Blake) Pierman of Bath, MI, Melinda (Marc) Draper of Twin Lake; grandchildren, Riley, Booke, Brianna; father, Raymond Anderson (Eddie); brothers, Ralph Anderson of Muskegon, Neal (Michelle) Anderson of Grand Rapids; sister, Janet Pearcy of Muskegon; nieces and nephews, Kelly Homfeld, Kendra Moore, Karla Pearcy, Samantha Anderson, Cody Anderson, and Derrick Anderson. Gina was preceded in death by her mother, Betty and her sister, Paula. A service will be held on Wednesday, January 13, 2010, 11:00 a.m. at Clock Life Story Funeral Homes Muskegon location Muskegon, MI, with Rev. Ken Shady officiating. Visit with Ginas family and friends on Tuesday, 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a memory or make a memorial contribution to the American Cancer Society.