MAYFIELD — Kirk Patrick Marutz, 55, of Mayfield, passed away on March 19, 2010, at home, with his loving wife by his side.
He was born on May 12, 1954, in St. Joseph, Mich., the son of Frank and Joanne (Patrick) Marutz. Graduating from high school in St. Joseph, Kirk continued his education at Michigan State University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in Business Administration.
In 1981, Kirk vacationed with a friend at Mac's Landing Resort in Mayfield, and fell in love with the beauty of Arbutus Lake and the surrounding land. He became owner of Mac's Landing Resort in 1983, where he lived and managed the business ever since. Kirk and his wife Sandy have celebrated 18 years together, enjoying the scenery and nature surrounding the resort.
Kirk considered himself less of a resort owner and more of a steward of the land. He cared deeply about preserving the natural beauty of the property, a place where people could come to enjoy the simple things — swimming, boating and fishing on the lake, sitting around a campfire, and catching a glimpse of the wildlife that roamed the area.
A true outdoorsman, Kirk enjoyed snowmobiling, fishing, and duck hunting, and was considered by many to be a duck hunting expert. Each fall brought a group of close friends together at Mac's Landing to begin the season with "Duck Camp," an annual ritual he cherished to celebrate both old and new friendships he nurtured throughout the years.
When Kirk learned that he had terminal cancer, he was determined to spend the remainder of his life the way he had spent each day up until that time — by making the most of every moment and socializing as much as possible with family and friends.
Kirk will forever be missed by his wife, Sandy Marutz; his mother, Joanne and father, Frank Marutz of St. Joseph; his brother, Scott (Nancy) Marutz of Loudon, Tenn.; sister, Michelle (Scott) Wallace of Westchester Pa.; nieces and nephews; and many close friends.
At Kirk's request, cremation has taken place, and rather than a funeral, he wished Sandy to host a celebration of life party, which will be held at a later date.
This obituary was originally published in the Record-Eagle.
