E. Mark Janz

Janz, E. Mark, 42, of Bay City, Michigan, died of brain cancer on January 21, 2012 at Bay Regional Medical Center. Mark battled cancer the same way he faced life: with humor, courage and a deep faith in God. Mark was born March 10, 1969 in Saginaw, Michigan to Edwin S. and Mildred H. (Hammerbacher-Wuepper) Janz. He graduated from Bangor John Glenn High School in 1988, where he was on the track team. After high school, Mark worked at the Meijer store on Wilder Road, where he stayed for 20 years until his illness forced him to retire. Mark was passionate about music, movies and history. In 2010, he achieved a long-time goal and took a history of rock and roll class at Delta College. He was also a dedicated blood donor, and received a life-time award for donating more than 6 gallons of blood. But most of all, he loved his family. He was a proud homeowner and loved caring for the home that he shared with his mother and his dog Pal. He leaves his cherished mother and five sisters; Sharon (Jim) Brown; Kate (Todd) Schisler; Susan (Marty) Crook; Ruth (Tim) Sutton and Jean (Don) Mead; many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. He also leaves his Meijer family, especially his good friend Diane McGregor. Mark was preceded in death by his father; nephew Kevin Mead; grandparents Albert and Meta (Lutz) Hammerbacher; Blondina (Kolm) Janz and Sylvester and Helen Janz. Mark's family would like to thank the employees and management of Wilder Road Meijer and Meijer Corporate Office in Grand Rapids for all their loving support and generosity during his illness. They also wish to thank Drs. Campau, Cook, Copeland, Hurt, Littles, Schisler, Sriharen and the staff of Bay Regional Medical Center and Heartland Home Health Care and Hospice-especially Shantel-for their compassionate care. Finally, they would like to thank Carol at Elsa U. Pardee Foundation and the Oldham Project for their assistance. Funeral services will take place on Thursday January 26, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 510 W. Ivy St., Bay City with Rev. William H. Allwardt with interment following in Floral Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Gephart Funeral Home, 201 W. Midland St., Bay City from 2:00 to 9:00 p.m. on January 25, 2012. Mark will be taken to the church on Thursday to lie in state from 12:00 o'clock Noon until the time of services. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be directed to Zion Lutheran Church; to the Elsa U. Pardee Foundation or that they donate blood in Mark's name. www.gephartfuneralhome.com "Death is nothing at all; I have only slipped away into the next room; I am I and you are you; whatever we were to each other, That we are still..."Canon Henry Scott-Holland,1847-1918