Mark Barrett

Mark Gerald Barrett, adored Husband, Father, and Grandfather, passed away at home on October 29, 2025, at the age of 63.

Mark was born in Flint, Michigan on May 30th, 1962 to parents Edwin and Madeline Barrett. He started his school career in Marshall, Michigan and moved with his family to Frankenmuth while in middle school. He graduated from Frankenmuth High School in 1980. Mark attended Michigan State University on a track scholarship, where he met his wife, Donna. He went on to become an insurance adjuster with qualifications and certifications in countless areas, leading him to become a beacon of knowledge within his field that is unparalleled to this day.

Mark is preceded in death by his father, Edwin Barrett. Mark is survived by his wife of 15 happy years, Donna Gaulin-Barrett; Mother, Madeline Jean (Mulliner) Barrett; Brother, Matthew (Kristina) Barrett; Sister, Cynthia (Kenneth) Kowalyk; Son, Johnathan Barrett; Daughter, Shanin (Tony) Gillman; Daughter, Leisa (Steve) Detloff; Daughter, Diana Gaulin and partner Alex Kastelen; Son, Joseph (Amanda) Gaulin. Mark is also survived by 6 grandchildren: Daniel Detloff; Brooklyn Detloff; Ella Gillman; Hudson Gillman; Henley Gillman; Teddy Gaulin. Mark is also survived by his niece, Lexi (Ryan) Mock; and niece Lindsay (Tito) Olgine, and her children, who he often viewed as his surrogate grandchildren, Cade Olgine, Cason Olgine, and Breece Olgine.

Mark’s true calling was to be a family man and a man of God. He viewed those beliefs as completely intertwined and inseparable and made sure to live his life in a way that not only exuded those beliefs, but also encouraged others to act in the same way. Mark often said that his life didn’t truly start until he started his family. He was the kind of person to drop anything he was doing and help anybody else, simply because they needed it. He could often be found helping people from family to neighbors to complete strangers with any project he could. Mark spent much of the late 1990s and early 2000s deeply involved in his son Johnathan’s music career in any way he could. Mark, a pure athlete when he was in school, found himself surrounded by musical theatre and jazz and engulfed himself completely in it because he found joy in helping other people complete their goals and find joy and passion in life.

Mark shifted his life down to the metro Detroit area at the end of the 2000s after reconnecting with the love of his life, Donna Yoskovich. Mark and Donna had met in college and dated, only to be separated across multiple state lines after they temporarily went their separate ways. As true love often does, it brought Mark and Donna together again to find themselves and combine their families into one beautiful, loving family. Mark and Donna were married on July 17th 2010 and celebrated their anniversary every year with a trip to South Haven, where the entire family was included on the trip. Mark saw no other way to celebrate his love with Donna than to include the family that they loved so much. This thought is indicative of Mark’s entire ethos: Life and love are nothing without family.

To commemorate his life and countless selfless deeds, a funeral service will be held at Cederberg Funeral Home of Frankenmuth, 590 N Franklin Street, Frankenmuth, MI 48734 on Tuesday, November 4th at 11am. Mark’s family will also receive visitors at the same location on Monday, November 3rd from 2pm to 8pm, and Tuesday, from 10am until the time of service.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations in Mark’s name to Toni and Trish House, P.O. Box 125, Auburn, MI 48611 or visit the donation page at Https://toniandtrishhouse.org Mark was immensely impressed with this location and the help that they gave his father during hospice and would very much wish to extend that courtesy to others through your donations.