Mark Douglas Arsenault
Mark Arsenault was truly a great father, friend, and teacher. He loved his wife and children, but even when he didn't know how to show it, it was apparent. When dad loved, he loved hard and when he worked, he worked harder. Miss you dad!
Nothing in life prepares you for the passing of a parent. Losing my father to such an ugly disease like Pulmonary Fibrosis was the hardest thing we have ever gone through. Each day brings a new kind of grief that is greeted with feelings of joy knowing he is now with Jesus.
Mark went through a similar loss in the 70's when he lost his brother Gary Wayne Arsenault. He never really discussed family much and I think it was because of the pain he went through with losing his only brother. Dad channeled his feelings into his work and he would work all day and then come home and work into the early hours of the morning, get a couple hours of sleep and then go back to work and do it all over again. Nobody knew dedication like my dad. He knew he had a family to care for and no education to fall back on.
Dad started working at the railroad as a janitor, pushing a broom basically. He would see guys struggling to finish a job and would watch how they did it. Then he would lend a hand and also asked tons of questions. It wasn't long after starting there that management took notice and promoted dad to the position of Carmen (Rail Car Mechanic). With dad's new found career there were plenty of moves all around the country from one state to another as most rail repair shops didn't stay in business long back then.
Dad made a name for himself to the point where everyone in the Railroad industry knew who he was. He was meticulous in everything he did and if it wasn't perfect you had better be prepared to do it again until it was correct. That attitude carried over from work to home and back to work again. In the late 90's he made the position of Quality Assurance Inspector. He worked for the best company that anyone could have the chance to work for in that industry. They treated him with respect and dignity, but not only that, they treated him as if he were family. Dad retired from Watco Companies around 2013 or so as Corporate Director of Quality Assurance. He was so talented at what he did that he was granted with the task of drafting and publishing all the quality manuals for the railroad.
In 2016, Dad was once again a Grandfather. My wife and I introduced dad to his new grandson Marcel Oliver Arsenault. At this point in time, dad was not well due to a previous injury, but having Marcel in his life gave him a new found joy. It didn't matter what football game was playing or if it was nap-time, dad would always perk up at the thought of Marcel coming to see him for a while. He definitely earned that "Grandfather of the year" T-shirt.
My brother John had also given dad two grandsons that Dad loved deeply. Chase and Hunter Arsenault lived further away so they didn't see their grandpa as much but his love for them never subsided. Dad also got to see John find his true happy place with a marriage to Jennifer just a couple years ago. Dad was very happy for them and thought very highly of Jennifer. His dreams of seeing both sons happily married with families of their own was what he always wanted and we were all able to give him that.
In 2015 I finally decided to chase my dreams. I got out of the tech industry and went back to school to pursue a career in the medical field. At first, I had to answer a million questions from dad as to why and how. Once he got used to the idea, he was so proud. For the past few years, due to moving and other unforeseen circumstances, I had to put my schooling on hold for a year and the majority of time I was only taking a couple classes at a time. I had always hoped dad would be around to see me graduate, but as dad got sick, that dream slowly withered away. I officially start my med school in April of 2019. Not only will my promise of finishing school come true, but in honor of my dad, I am also going to enroll upon graduation to get my PHd. as a pulmonologist and work in honor of my father. He may not be here to see all this unfold, but I know he would be proud as he was with everything his kids did. Since dad never graduated high school and still managed to work his way to the top of the corporate ladder the hard way, he never wanted his kids to go through all the things he did on his way to the top. I am dedicating my education and career to my dad, Mark Douglas Arsenault.
Dad had agreed to get his DNA tested, but sadly that never happened due to his passing. Dad was French Acadian, Mi'Kmaq Indian, Scottish/Irish, German and British. Dad was very proud of his royal ancestry and his patriotic ties to Lincoln, Washington and many other ancestors that were our forefathers. He loved to travel and loved nature. He even went head to head with a bull moose once in Yellowstone National Park. Yes, I even have a Polaroid of it.
If you have any questions about Mark or his family, please feel free to ask as I may have left some things out.
Mr. Mark Douglas Arsenault, of Kansas City, Kansas, born on August 4, 1950 in Keene, New Hampshire, to the late Fairy Ellen Weaver and the late Maxime Lucien Arsenault, passed away at age 67 on July 25, 2018 in Leesburg, Florida. He attended Washington High School (Kansas City). He was in the Railroad industry as a Corporate Director of Quality Assurance at Watco Companies Inc.. Mark was the beloved husband of Linda Kay (Channel) Arsenault. He was preceded in death by his brother, Gary Wayne Arsenault; sister, Naomi (Breshears) Briggs; and aunt, Rita Arsenault. Mark is survived by his sons, Aaron Arsenault and John Arsenault; brother, Lloyd Marion Breshears; grandchildren, Marcel Arsenault, Chase Arsenault, and Hunter; and aunts, Lorraine Arsenault, Connie Arsenault, and Jeanette Arsenault. He also leaves behind his dog, Sadie. Mark enjoyed fishing, going to the beach, spending time with his grandchildren, and watching baseball and football games. Donations in Mark's name to https://pulmonaryfibrosisnow.org/donate/ are welcome and appreciated. Services will be Private.