Mark Anthony Augustine

Mark Anthony Augustine

Heart of gold. Man of Steel.

It is with profound love and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Mark Anthony Augustine - a husband, a father, a son, a big brother to many, a teacher, a thinker, a protector, a planner, a counselor, a business owner, a finance guy, and a fearless leader. He was all of these things and more, but above all else, he was ours.

Mark's story began at Ferris State University, where life had something extraordinary waiting for him. It was there that he discovered his talents in management, economics, welding, and fabrication - and, most importantly, where he met the beautiful woman who would become his partner in everything: his beloved wife, Sandy. From that moment forward, everything Mark did, he did for his family.

He launched his career in manufacturing in metro Detroit, where his relentless work ethic and natural leadership set him apart from the very beginning. He worked his way up through the ranks to plant manager, and then - with courage, vision, and sheer determination - built a full-scale manufacturing facility entirely from the ground up. For ten years, Northern Metal Stamping stood as a testament to what Mark could accomplish when he set his mind to something. In 2015, he and Sandy embarked on their next chapter together, founding Rebel Metalworks, a business that carried his spirit, his name, and his heart.

Mark had a natural gift for golf, excelling as an outstanding player in both high school and college and earning his place in the Longest Drive Club - because when Mark swung, he could hit it a mile.

When he wasn't building something great, Mark could be found doing the things that filled his soul. He was a devoted hunter and fisherman who treasured his 40-acre farm, where the rumble of his tractor was a familiar and comforting sound. He loved escaping to Florida, watching the Weather Channel with genuine enthusiasm, and cheering loudly on the sidelines of every single event his children were a part of. He never missed a moment. Not one. And at the end of every day, you could find him right where he belonged - settled into his favorite recliner, bowl of ice cream in hand, watching TV beside his Sandy.

Mark is survived by the great love of his life, his wife Sandy; his children, Stephanie "Stephie," Kyle (Tatiana), and Madi; his Godfather and Uncle, Richard "Dick," and Aunt Cheryl; his mother, Patsy; and his sister, Kim. He is also survived by every person whose life he touched - every child he cheered for, every worker he mentored, every room he walked into and made feel a little safer and a little warmer just by being there. Mark was preceded in death by his grandparents, Anthony "Tony" and Jennie Augustine and Paul and Idell Trapp; his father, Robert "Bob" Augustine; his cousin, Gary Augustine; his Godmother and Aunt, Bonnie Beebe; and his Uncle, Ron Grisez.

Mark Anthony Augustine built things - businesses, families, legacies, and memories that will never fade. His heart of gold touched everyone it reached, and that warmth - that unmistakable Mark Augustine warmth - will carry forward in every life he shaped.

Visitation for Mark will be held on Sunday March 1, 2026, at Nelsons Funeral Home, 135 N. Center Avenue in Gaylord from 12 Noon until 6 p.m. Mark will lie in state Monday 10 am, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Elmira, Michigan, until the time of the Mass of the Christian Burial at 11 am. Celebrating the Funeral Liturgy will be Reverend Fr. Yakuba Philibus. Following the Funeral there will be a Celebration of Mark's life at Boyne Mountain Resort in the Vienna Room of the Mountain Grand Lodge.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made in Mark's memory to support trade and vocational education, honoring the craft and work ethic that defined him. Contributions can be sent directly to the family via Venmo @Sandra-Augustine-1 or in person and will be donated in full in his name to the Gaylord High School welding program.

Please share your stories and memories of Mark in the "Share a Memory" section above. Arrangements entrusted to Nelsons Cremation & Funeral Services, 135 N. Center Ave., PO Box 1548, Gaylord, Michigan 49734. www.CareByNelsons.com