Gordon Martin Marske

Gordon M. Marske, 91, of Boise, passed away Friday, November 27, 2020, at Shaw Mountain of Cascadia Retirement Home. He was born on January 18, 1929 to Adolph and Lucille Marske in St. Joseph, Michigan. Gordon was the youngest of four kids. He is preceded in death by his parents Adolph and Lucille (Kramp) Marske, two sisters Evelyn Mutz and LaVerne Peters, a brother Eugene Marske, and a nephew Jerry Mutz. He is survived by his son Steven Marske (wife Laura Ventura), of the Philippines, four grandchildren, and four great grandchildren, eight nieces and nephews, fourteen great nieces and nephews, eighteen great-great nieces and nephews, and seven great-great-great nieces and nephews.

Gordon was many things in his life. He was a U.S. Navy veteran, spending much of his time in the service in the Philippines. He was a surveyor by trade, working for the Intermountain Gas Company mostly in Idaho. He was a father later in his life when he reconnected with his son who lives in the Philippines. And for that, he was a grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a husband and step-father for a time (he was married and divorced twice). He was an uncle, nephew, and cousin to many family members in Michigan and beyond. And he was a wonderful neighbor.

He was a devoted and ever-forgiving friend. He lived with his best friend Jerry Guthrie for decades out of a mutual necessity of support—two bachelors who fished together, gardened together, made their own wine together, and found (or reacquainted themselves to) God together. They attended church at Messiah Lutheran in Nampa together. And even at the end of his life, Gordon was able to be assigned to the same room as Jerry at the Retirement home.

Gordon loved his family; he loved to attend the large family reunions back in Michigan every other year. He loved his backyard; he loved to fish—there are many pictures of his catch; he loved his son and lived to Skype with his son Steven every morning to talk and read about God and Jesus. Gordon loved ice cream and apple pie. He loved taking drives (even when he couldn’t see very well later in his life). He loved visiting with people and he certainly knew how to endear himself to his friends and their families.

But most of all, he loved God and Jesus. At the end, he looked forward to being with his maker, starting a new chapter of his existence. We will miss him greatly. A Memorial service will be held on December 11th at 10am at Messiah Lutheran Church. This service will be live-streamed at messiahnampa.com/sermons/.