- Date Of Birth: August 25, 1927
- Date Of Death: January 2, 2021
- State: Indiana
Mr. Harlan D. “Dave” Marvel, Jr., 93, of Elkhart, passed away peacefully at Valley View Nursing Facility in Elkhart on Saturday, January 2, 2021 at 12:05 am. He was born in Hartman, AR on August 25, 1927 to the late Harlan D. and Laura (Morrow) Marvel, Sr., and married Suzanne M. DuBuc in Louisville, KY on April 16, 2001. She survives at home.
Also surviving are his children Laura Gail (the late Harold) Bishop of Osceola, Deanna (the late Pete) Gilles of South Bend, Brenda Waddell of Elkhart, Charles D. (Jill) Marvel of Mishawaka, Daniel Marvel of Chesterton, Mark Marvel of Elkhart, Timothy (Rockie) Marvel of Richardson, TX, Kathleen (Brian) Hinegardner of Elkhart and Gary (Amy) Marvel of Pierceton; 22 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren; Suzanne’s children Tami (Sue) Slaven of Elkhart, Tara (Trampus) Perry of Ft. Wayne and Del (Nikki) Feltz of Chicago and her grandchildren Dominic Nisley and Ruby Lynn Feltz; as well as a host of loving extended family, friends and kinfolk from down south who lovingly knew him as “Sonny”. Besides his parents, he is also preceded in death by children Gregory and Harlan Wayne Marvel and Vickie Gowdy and brother Charles W. “Bill” Marvel, Sr.
Billings Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Elkhart are hosting Harlan’s homegoing services on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021 with a visitation beginning at 10 am followed by services at 12:00 noon. Pastor Joe Rager will officiate and and burial will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Osceola. Please remember that Covid-19 restrictions are still in full effect for Elkhart County Funeral Homes, requiring visitors to facemasks, social distancing and to observe occupancy limits of 25 individuals in the building at a time. Because of these limitations, the family is providing a live stream of Harlan’s service where attendees may view a large screen outdoor television in the funeral home parking lot and listen to the service on FM 102.9. Additionally, everyone is welcome at the graveside services!
Harlan was born of the breed that idealized the principle of hard work and living by one’s word. He wore many hats throughout life but found a career in the concrete and construction industry where he spent over 60 years of his life operating Marvel Concrete, Marvel Construction, Bastion Builders and Michiana Real Estate Rentals. And as if all that wasn’t enough, he did snow removal throughout the winter.
Harlan was also very musically inclined and had quite a talent with playing his guitar. He played in a few bands over the years, recorded some CD’s, and even played for Bob Wills and his band at the Peach Festival in Clarksville, AR one year. He continued his love of music throughout the years, and still enjoyed singing karaoke whenever he could. He also went camping and enjoyed visiting family living out of state, if you could ever get him to leave work to go. But Harlan’s unwavering work ethic and love for staying “on the job” usually meant that Suzanne had to talk him into it!
Above everything, Harlan loved his family and enjoying the simpler things in life. He was a devout fan of NASCAR and the Earnhardt boys, as well as a huge devotee of the Chicago Bears and the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame!
