Patrick Gavin

Mr. Patrick W. Gavin, age 68, of Marne, went to be with Lord on December 18, 2017. He was predeceased by his parents, Frank and Lucile Gavin, his brother Joseph Gavin, and his sister Sally Gavin. He is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Mary Jane Gavin (Bouterse); his daughters Kari (Chris) Fuller, Brenda (Mark) McDonald, Rebecca (Curtis) Ruster, and Liz Gavin; his grandchildren Lauren and Riley Fuller, Ben, Travis, and Sam McDonald, Carrington, James, and Vanessa Ruster; his brothers Tom (Maggie) Gavin, Fred (Mary Rose) Gavin, and Bill (Jane) Gavin; his sister-in-law Jean Gavin. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and relatives. He was a graduate of West Catholic High School and Ferris State University School of Pharmacy. He served in the Michigan National Guard from 1968 to 1976. Pat was Vice President of Pharmacy with Meijer Inc., a past chairman of the Michigan Board of Pharmacy, a member and past president of the Coopersville Area Public Schools Board of Education. After his victory over cancer in 2007, he became a patient advocate for cancer research. He volunteered at Gilda’s Club in Grand Rapids and numerous national cancer research organizations including the Cancer Research Consortium of West Michigan, the Van Andel Institute, Stand Up to Cancer, the National Cancer Institute Patient Advocate Steering Committee, the American Association for Cancer Research, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday at 11:00 AM at St. Mary’s Church, Marne where his family will receive visitors one hour prior to the Mass. His family will receive visitors Thursday from 3:00 to 8:00 PM at the Arsulowicz Brothers Remembrance Mortuary, 3525 Remembrance Rd NW where the Vigil Service will be held Thursday at 7:30 PM. Memorial Contributions may be made to Gilda’s Club of Grand Rapids, Spectrum Health Foundation / Cancer Research Consortium of West Michigan, or the Coopersville Area Community Foundation-Coopersville Schools Educational Foundation Fund. Pat always started his speeches by saying, “I am alive today by the grace of God and because I was part of a cancer research clinical trial.” “Too Blessed To Be Stressed.”

Tributes

Patrick Gavin

December 3, 1949 - December 18, 2017