Todd Allen Marks
January 7, 1978 - June 30, 2010

Todd Allen Marks was a talented and dedicated man. Skilled in carpentry, he was a master at remodeling; fond of the outdoors, he liked gardening and camping. Above all he was devoted to family and friends who shared his love of life and beauty.

Todds story began in the decade of mood rings, Rubiks cubes, yellow smiley faces and disco dancinga lighthearted contrast to protests over war and government misconduct. He was born to David and Janice (Graves) Marks in Grand Haven, Michigan on January 7, 1978. His mother was a nurse and his father worked for a tool and die company, as they cared for Todd and his older sister Dana and younger sister Kimberly.

While he was in elementary school, Todds parents divorced and he and his sisters went to live with their mom in Dorr, Michigan, south of Grand Rapids. He attended school in nearby Hopkins and surrounded himself with a small but loyal circle of friends. Both his parents eventually remarried, and through his dads wife, Todd gained a step brother Matthew and step sister Aimee. He had a good relationship with them and enjoyed the times he spent with his dad.

At home with his mom, Todd was involved with horses and went to shows with her. However, his great passion was fixing up a blue Chevy truck that had a white bow tie painted on the hood. He was justifiably proud of that truck and loved driving it around.

After graduating from Hopkins High School, Todd found a job at Hilliards Bar, where he worked in the kitchen and did some bar tending. After two years there, a patron of the bar told Todd about a job at Falcon Foam Company in Grand Rapids. So in 1997, he made the move to Falcon and in that same year he met Charlie Johnson, who became his partner in life.

Charlie also found work at Falcon, and he and Todd moved in together. In 2000, they bought a house in the Eastown Neighborhood of Grand Rapids. They made room for a Shar-Pei dog named Sumo, that he loved dearly, and a pet rabbit named Bean. It was a place that Todd could grow a garden full of flowers. And because he always liked being outdoors, Todd and Charlie also went camping up north or in Saugatuck along scenic Lake Michigan.

Back in Eastown, the house captured Todds energy and imagination in such a way that it altered his lifes work. As he remodeled the house, he demonstrated real craftsmanship with his attention to detail. By 2006, he had become expert enough to start his own business: Grand Tile Installation and Design. With Charlies help from time to time, the two of them did custom ceramic tile work in the Grand Rapids area. Eventually, Charlie quit his day job and teamed up with Todd full time. They bought another house and, over the course of a year, they flipped it and sold a newly remodeled home for a profit. He upped the ante by getting an associates degree in business administration through University of Phoenix. Todd was a serious craftsman and businessman who had fun at the same time.

Todds business was doing fine but, unfortunately, his health was not. He started experiencing some sickness and began losing weight. But being a proud and rather private guy, he didnt let on to his friends. Instead, he attributed his illness to working too hard on the job and at home with remodeling. Eventually, the time came when Todd could no longer deny help. It was discovered that he had problems with his immunity system and needed hospitalization. He received great care from the folks at St. Marys Hospital and donations for medicine he needed. He tried to keep his business going as best he could with the help of Charlie and his friends.

Even with the amazing attention and support he received, Todd couldnt beat his illness. He died Wednesday June 30th, 2010 surrounded by those who loved him. They are a tribute to a life lived with deep appreciation for beauty all around him.

Mr. Todd Allen Marks, age 32, will be greatly missed by his partner of 13 years, Charlie Johnson, of Grand Rapids; his father, David (Andrea) Marks of Nunica; his mother, Janice (Howard) Crawford of TN; his sisters, Dana (Eric) Ridlington of Spring Lake, Kimberly (Chris) Bekkering of Allegan; his step brother, Matthew (Laura) Burnell of Grand Haven and step sister, Aimee Burnell of Fruitport; his nieces, Audrey, Mikayla and Ashley; his nephews, Adam and Joshua; his loving pet dog, Sumo. Graveside service on Saturday, July 3, 2010, 1:00 PM at Nunica Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Special Immunology Services, 310 Lafayette SE, Suite 410, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Please visit www.clockfuneralhome.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book.

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