Marvin E. Davis

Lifelong Gibsonburg resident Marvin Edward Davis passed to his heavenly home on October 7, 2014, at Memorial Hospital, Fremont, Ohio, following a sudden illness. He was born in Millbury, Ohio on July 26, 1929, to Arthur and Lillian (Kopfmann) Davis. He graduated from Gibsonburg High School in 1947. He married Lois Irene Fought in Sandusky, Ohio on May 13, 1950. They were married for 61 years until she passed away in September of 2011. Marv was a carpenter and construction superintendent by trade, and a farmer at heart. He worked on the Davis family farm from a young age before going to work at a dairy for his Uncle Gordon. He worked early in the mornings at the dairy, then did carpentry work with his uncle in the afternoons. His first formal job was at the elevator where he worked six days per week, nine hours a day, earning $28.35 for the week at the age of 19. He also worked at the Flexible File Company prior to starting his construction career with Mosser Construction in 1954. He worked his way up at Mosser to the position of superintendent, and could vividly remember every job on which he worked. Some of the most notable projects include: the original Lakota High School, Findlay High School, UPS in Maumee, Ohio, Maumee Bay State Park, and numerous structures at Bowling Green State University. He took great pride in the fact that he never lost money on a job. He gave 40 dedicated years of his life to doing hard, quality work. One of his many mottos was to, "do it right the first time or don't do it at all; and to measure twice, but cut once." Marv bought a 40 acre farm west of Gibsonburg in 1970 where he spent many years enjoying farming as his hobby. He also enjoyed many hunting and fishing trips to the cabin on Sucker Lake on the Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada. He shared original ownership of the cabin built in 1959 with Frank Hovis, Lutz Krotzer, Jim Zeller, Gus Cassidy, Jerry Wasserman, and Herb Peiffer. This was his favorite place, where he enjoyed fifty years of good memories with his sons, friends, and grandchildren (at least those who were willing to brave the 'rustic' conditions). Marv also was an entrepreneur of sorts when he purchased a shoe store in Gibsonburg in 1980, remodeling and renaming it Marv's Clothing & Shoes. He and Lois ran the business for a decade, catering to the clothing and work shoe needs of the local working man, as well as repairing shoes. He was a devoted husband and father of five who was the definition of a family provider. Marv was the stable rock upon which his family foundation was built both figuratively and literally, as he used his expert carpentry (and managerial) skills to remodel or build homes for all of his children. He taught them all the value of hard work, doing their best, and taking care of each other. He managed to live his entire life without the modern conveniences of an answering machine, a computer, a cell phone or a credit card; though he was quite fond of his TV remote. He will be sadly missed by his children, grandchildren, siblings, and the many friends and co-workers left behind. He had a quick wit, jokes and one-liners like no other. Marv believed in working hard and playing hard, and definitely lived life to the fullest. Marv was a lifetime member of Carpenter's Local 2239, the Gibsonburg Masonic Lodge No. 575 where he was a member since 1959, and served as Master in 1971, and the Sandusky County Sportsman Club. He was also a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Gibsonburg, Ohio. Surviving are sons Scott E., Kurt R., and Kevin L. all of Gibsonburg; Marvin E. II of Bowling Green and daughter Kelly J. (Davis) Meyers of Defiance, Ohio; siblings Betty Zuleger, Bloomfield Hills, MI, Bernadine (Tim) Black of Rochester Hills, MI, Glenn Davis of Gravois Mills, Missouri and Ronald Davis of Gibsonburg; also 15 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Parents, Arthur and Lillian, siblings, Don, Geraldine, Raymond and Phyllis, and wife, Lois, are deceased. Visitation will be at the Herman-Kinn-Veh Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Gibsonburg on Friday, October 10 from 4-8 p.m. Funeral services will take place at the funeral home on Saturday, October 11 at 10:30 a.m., with one hour visitation prior to the service. Rev. Betty Wineland will officiate. Burial will follow at West Union Cemetery, Gibsonburg. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to the Sandusky County Sportsman Club.