Marvin Henry Marek

Marvin Marek spent his life with his hands in the dirt, on the tools of his trade, and in the service of others. Born to Frank and Dolphina Jezek Marek, he was one of ten siblings, with sisters Elsie, Dorothy, Margie, Linda, and Gladys and brothers Frank, Edwin, Johnny, and Daniel. He spent the majority of his life in the small Czech communities of East Bell County. His early life was as part of a sharecropper family, where he developed the unshakable work ethic that defined his entire life. He attended several community schools, including Rogers High School, before he went to work at Binswanger Glass in Waco. He also worked at the cotton gin in Cyclone and later worked at Ralph Wilson Plastics (Wilsonart) until retirement.

Marvin married Ann Tate in 1963, and together, they raised three sons, David, Rick, and Robert. In 1977, he married Mary Hightower Marek, with whom he welcomed a daughter, April, and a son, Randall. His love for his family was steady and practical—he taught by doing, by fixing, by building, and by showing up when it mattered most.

Never one to sit idle, Marvin filled his retirement years with service and labor of a different kind. He was an active member of the community, serving on the board of directors for the East Bell Water Supply Corporation, the Rogers Band Boosters, and the Seaton Cemetery Association. He could be found volunteering at local churches, working with the Rogers Athletic Boosters, or tending to his land, where he raised registered miniature donkeys and Boston Terriers.

He was a man who could build or repair just about anything—machines, tools, buildings, and contraptions of all sorts. But his true craft was found in the outdoors, where he spent hours hunting, fishing, and tending to his sprawling vegetable gardens and orchards. He also had a fondness for collecting and selling historical artifacts (junk), claiming he had an eye for hidden treasures—though his family might have had a different opinion on that.

Marvin is survived by his five children, David (Susie), Rick (April), Robert (Tammy), April (Ricky), and Randall (Lindsey), as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Tessa (Scott), Logan, Caleb, Ryan, Kaytlynn, Jaxson, Keagan, Adalynn, Olivia, Colson, Lindsey, Madi, Brycen, Natalie, Jakob, and Kaleb. He passed away surrounded by his children after a valiant battle with cancer, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, integrity, and quiet wisdom.

He believed in working hard, staying busy, and leaving things better than he found them—values he instilled in his children, not through words alone, but through action. He never sought recognition, only the satisfaction of a job well done and the knowledge that he had raised a family who would carry on his lessons.

His was a life well lived—rooted in hard work, built on decency, and rich in love.

Visitation services will be at Young's Daughters Funeral Home located at 4235 E. US HWY 190 Temple, TX 76501 held from 12:00 - 2:00 pm on Saturday, February 8, 2025 then the graveside service to follow at Seaton Cemetery commencing at 2:30pm.There will be no procession.  

Arrangements are under the direction of Sabrina Young at Young's Daughters Funeral Home and Bereavement Center