Mark Rinkevicz, 59, passed away April 23, 2025 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, after a brief illness.

Mark Andrew Rinkevicz was born April 5, 1966, the youngest of five children of Ronald and Donna Rinkevicz in Scottville, Michigan, where they had a dairy farm in Riverton Township. He attended Riverton Elementary where he met his best buddy Kelly Major and they shared a lifelong friendship. Mark graduated from Mason County Central High School in 1984, attended Ferris State University and Western Michigan University where he graduated in 1991. That same year, he married Christy Larsen and together they had two daughters Hanna and Madelyn (Madie), who were the joy of his life. He got to give Hanna away at her wedding in 2024 and just missed Madie’s college graduation by 2 days on April 25, 2025 which he had been looking forward to celebrating with her.

Mark joined the Grand Rapids Fire Dept. in 1991 and found the career that he loved as a firefighter. He joined a brotherhood of firefighters who in addition to working together, supported each other through thick and thin. When one had a need, they all stepped in to help, whether it be home repairs, moving or covering each other’s shifts while they or someone in their family was dealing with serious health issues. He retired after 27 years with the fire department. He left big shoes to fill literally, his footprints are painted in the basement of the firehouse…once when he didn’t want to polish his shoes, he took a can of black paint and painted them! The fire department has hundreds of stories about Mark and so do his family and friends, many of them about food and his late night binges! He was an unforgettable character and a good father, brother, uncle and friend who was always ready to laugh and joke and tell stories with anyone, despite debilitating pain from an unsuccessful back surgery.

In 2023, he moved back “home” to the Scottville area, where he enjoyed country living, mushroom hunting, poker games and spending time with friends and family.

Mark will be sadly missed by his daughters Hanna Rinkevicz (Ethan Bollaert), Madelyn Rinkevicz and their mother Christy Larsen-Rinkevicz as well as siblings, Ruth, Dale (Colleen, Monica), Janet (Jim) Shinsky, Wayne (Terri, Cindy), and nephews and nieces Wayne Rinkevicz, Jr. (Shayla), Jordan Rinkevicz (KC), Brandon (Kayla) Shinsky, Kaitlyn Rinkevicz, and Ruth’s 22 foster children and grandchildren. Mark also has many great-nieces and nephews including Quinn, Zeppelin and Dahlia who live in California and Sarica, Brendan, Nadia, Landon, Addy and Ari who live in Michigan.

He will also be missed by the Petersen, Manchesky and Pratt uncles, aunts and cousins as well as by his firefighter brothers and many friends of the family collected over 59 years.

He was preceded in death and is reunited in heaven with father Ronald Rinkevicz, mother Donna Rinkevicz-Heynen, stepfather Hank Heynen, brothers Dale and Wayne Rinkevicz, grandparents Justin and Elanore Rinkevicz, Vance and Florence Petersen, aunt Pat Petersen, uncles Richard Pratt and Chris Davis, cousin Suzette Costew, father-in-law Gary Larsen and mother-in-law Sue Larsen. As well as by great grandparents, relatives and many friends through the years.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 2:00 pm at Oak Grove Funeral Home of Ludington, with visitation at 1:00. A pig roast will follw at Riverton Town Hall, 2122 W Hawley Rd, Scottville, MI. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the firefighters fundraiser Neighbors United, helping firefighters fight cancer: www.walkforthered.org

Arrangements were entrusted to Oak Grove Funeral Home of Ludington, www.OakGroveLudington.com.