Mark Higle

Mark Gerard Higle, a man whose infectious warmth and zest for life touched everyone he met, passed away peacefully at the age of 64 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Born in Detroit, Mark grew up in Troy, Michigan, and spent his later years in Pontiac, Lansing and Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was the beloved son of the late Charles Kenneth and Patricia Ann (Boyle) Higle.
Though Mark experienced an Intellectual Disability, he never let it define the boundaries of his life and he consistently sought to be empowered. He lived a life remarkably full and had a social calendar many would envy, thanks to the dedication of his family and friends who ensured he was always surrounded by love and activity. Mark truly believed that anyone he met was a friend.
He had a deep appreciation for his favorite pastimes, such as attending Troy High School football games where he would often sit in the booth with the announcers, bowling at Thunderlanes in Troy, watching movies at the theater, and socializing at Horrocks in Lansing. Boulan Park was another favorite spot for him in his youth.
Mark was a member of various churches including: First Presbyterian Church of Lansing; Plymouth Congregational Church in Lansing; Zion Lutheran Church in Ferndale and Pine Hill Congregational Church in West Bloomfield; and St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Troy. He demonstrated his religious devotion playing Chimes in various choirs, assisting with Summer Bible Camp, serving as an acolyte at First Presbyterian Church of Lansing, packing Thanksgiving baskets; serving as a greeter and handing out bulletins for both First Presbyterian and Plymouth Congregational Church in Lansing. Most recently, Mark was honored and recognized for his personal accomplishments by the Washtenaw County Community Mental Health in celebration of his successes.
Mark is survived by his five siblings: Bob Higle (Megan), Ken Higle (Annette), Julie Higle (Suvrajeet Sen), Amy Kaminski (Paul), and Laura Higle. He was a cherished uncle to his many nieces and nephews: Tim and Tony Higle; Natalie Schaal (Andrew), Robin Marcelino, Sister Cora Rose, OP, and Sister Magdalene; Emily Goldberg (Nacho Romero), Shurid Sen (Lacey), Sonali Sen (Antoine Reese); Ben Goldberg (Audrey Chamoire); Brandi Nagulapalli (Kiran), Chelsea Davidson (Gordon) and Meghan Kaminski (Jake Suydam); and Jacob Higle-Ralbovsky. He is also survived by numerous grand-nieces and nephews.
Mark was one of the famed "Little Guys" along with his devoted younger sisters, Amy and Laura. We easily remember childhood memories of great fun and joy and will always feel his loss. In Detroit during the early years, the "Little Guys" played a game called "Land of the Giants" which mimicked a TV show at the time. In some ways, this became a metaphor for Mark's life. The Little Guys will never be the same. Another sweet memory was when Mark visited New York City for the 1st time he was so overjoyed by the experience that he stopped in the middle of Times Square, raised his hands high and shouted, "I LOVE NEW YORK CITY"! He also enjoyed attending the Lansing Lugnuts frequently. Mark was a truly remarkable soul, deeply loved and cared for throughout his lifetime by countless people. His legacy is one of pure, unconditional friendship and joy.
Visitation will be held on Friday, October 24, 2025, from 4-7pm, with additional visiting on Saturday, October 25, at 2pm, followed by the funeral service at 3pm, all at Nie Family Funeral Home, 2400 Carpenter Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48108.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mark's name to the following organizations:
Adult Learning Systems (ALS) AFC provider for Mark's last residency: https://www.als-lm.org/donate.html