Mark Reel

Mark R. Reel, Age 56, Firefighter and Paramedic, died September 7, 2018 in the line of duty, as a result of occupational cancer.

Devoted father of Adam and Randy; cherished son of Richard G. and Patricia A. (nee McCormick) Reel; loving brother of Sandra Reel (husband Bruce Merchant), Claudia McCollim, and Cynthia Locker (husband John); dearest uncle of Justin and Caitlin Locker, and Brian Busch; former husband of Kathryn Reel; treasured son-in-law of George Schnur (wife Linda) and Erika Schnur; dear brother-in-law of Karen Busch; dear cousin of Debra and John Ryman; survived by his dear friends Colette Willins (sons Joshua and Aaron), Justine Wells, Becky Beckrest, and Steve Deuschle.

And to the many active and retired Firefighter brothers and sisters, and their families, who visited, sat with, helped, loved, cared for and supported Mark throughout his career and especially during his last challenge, we give our undying gratitude and love.

U.S. Army Veteran.

After graduating in 1980 from Euclid Senior High, Mark joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany, where he learned to downhill ski, which became a wintertime passion for Mark.  He then joined the Cleveland Heights Fire Department where he served as a firefighter and a paramedic.  He retired on April 30, 2018 after 32 years of service.  He regularly volunteered at Camp Cheerful which provides recreation programs for burn victims and children with disabilities.  He was also a member of Team RWB whose mission is to enrich the lives of veterans by helping them connect to their community through physical and social activity.  He coached soccer when his boys were in school and was in a rowing crew on the Cuyahoga River.  He enjoyed experiencing different cuisines and cooking, and he planned to go to Chef School when he retired.

Mark always had an adventurous spirit.  As a child growing up in Euclid, Mark explored the neighborhood with his close friend and neighbor; to the chagrin of their parents, the two musketeers enjoyed bumper hitching in the winter, fishing, camping out, walking the railroad tracks and sneaking into the drive-in theater.

More recently, Mark lived surrounded by the Cuyahoga Valley National Park where he would hike and bike. He was always pointing out the birds and knew where the eagles were nesting.  His favorite bird was the black capped chickadee.  In the winter, he loved cross country skiing, especially in the early morning or on a moon lit night when he had the park all to himself.

Mark hiked and traveled all over the U.S. and abroad. His travels took him to Great Britain, Ireland, Scotland, France, Spain, Germany, Thailand, Guatemala, Morocco, and Hawaii.  He even auditioned for the TV show The Amazing Race with his former wife Kathryn.

Following his cancer diagnosis, Mark kept this quote by Jonathan Dorn with him. It reflects the courage with which he faced the challenge.

Death Be Not Boring

Spare me the mundane fade of natural causes, the gentle expire in the dark

of night. Take me rudely, in a frantic gnashing of claws and canines in

some far wilderness. Unleash your vipers, your flash floods, your

stampeding wildfires. Give me the awful clarity of free-fall, the mad

carnival ride of avalanche. Drag these well-used bones from the trail into

one final glorious maelstrom of discovery and while you’re at it,

release the goddamn kraken.

I’ve lived well.  I’ve adventured widely.  I will not die poorly.

With gratitude to the staff at Holy Family Hospice where Mark spent his last days, and to the Taussig Brain Cancer Oncology staff at Cleveland Clinic.

Contributions may be made in memory of Mark to Camp Cheerful, through Aluminum Cans for Burn Children, 4758 Ridge Rd. #166 Cleveland, 44144.

Mass of Christian Burial Saturday, September 15, 2018 at 10:00 AM at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, 3649 E. 65^th St., Cleveland. Burial following with Military Honors at Lake View Cemetery. Family will receive friends to pay tribute to and celebrate the life of Mark at THE DeJOHN-FLYNN-MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME OF SOUTH EUCLID, 4600 MAYFIELD RD. (just east of Green Rd.) FRIDAY 1-3 and 5-8 PM. Online obituary, guestbook and order flowers at www.DeJohnCares.com.