John Mark Musto

John Mark Musto February 22, 1946 - June 20, 2023 John Mark Musto: Treasured father, grandfather, son, uncle, big brother, cousin, friend to many. Artist. Player of tennis. Driver of boats Cyclist. Swimmer. Snorkler. Fisherman. Traveler. God-fearing to the core. Devoted supporter to his offspring and the entirety of their endeavors. Avid creator and designator of nicknames. A peculiarly massive fan of fried chicken. Peppermint gum aficionado. Diet Coke. Mark graduated from High School at 16. A year later he entered the U.S. Navy (USO Illinois Great Lakes Center) for 4 years, stationed in Scotland, working on ships that fueled naval submarines. While in the service, his mother wrote him weekly — reminding him not to forget to attend Sunday mass, safe to say he did not forget. When he left the service in 1968, he decided to enroll in the Detroit Society of Arts and Crafts (currently called College for Creative Studies) to pursue a degree of fine arts; he was a profoundly talented illustrator who loved to draw and make models of his siblings. He then went on to do display and visual work for department stores. He retired from Chrysler as a proud union member. In 1972 he married Sally McCallum. 5 years later in 1977 his first daughter, Marnie was born then his second daughter, Sarah in 1982. His grandparents, John “Jack” and Ann Donnellon bought a cottage on Harsens Island to give their grandkids a place to play during the summer. He was fortunate to spend summers on Lake Saint Clair with his beloved aunts and many cousins, who were essentially additional siblings. Mark carried on this legacy and got his own cottage on Russell Island for his kids and grandkids to enjoy — the focal point of his life was his children and grandchildren. The logistics of Mark’s life fail to capture the essence of who he was as a man. He worked hard to create a life that would allow his family to thrive. He understood what it meant to be an artist, a father, a role model, and a provider. He found fulfillment in the simplest of gifts that life had to offer him. He would drop anything to take the kids on a boat ride, he would swim in the river no matter the time of day, his morning coffee was enough, cutting the grass or pulling weeds was not a chore in his eyes, if you asked him to go fishing he would burst with joy, and his Sundays were dedicated to the Lord. He never took for the granted the endless flow of gifts he received throughout his life; his kids. A plethora of children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews were blessed to have been imprinted by him. Mark leaves behind his daughters, Marnie Meagher (John Meagher) and their children, Connor, Aidan, Delaney, Ellison, Brody, and Francis. Sarah Musto (Whitney Deveroux) and their children, Jackson and Savannah. Younger brothers Gary, James, Tom, and baby sister Jane. He was preceded in death by his parents, Michael and Dorothy Musto, brother Michael Timothy Musto and best friend, Michael Murphy.