Manistique Man Mark Brooks Found Dead After Days-Long Search; Family Seeks Help With Funeral Costs

The small community of Manistique, Michigan, is grieving the loss of Mark Brooks, a young man who went missing late Thursday evening and was later found dead, leaving his family and friends heartbroken and searching for answers.

The ordeal began when Mark Brooks disappeared without a trace late Thursday night. His aunt, Frances Stabile, took to Facebook in an urgent plea, writing that Mark had been missing since Thursday evening and may also have been spotted near the Gulliver area.

She urged anyone with information to contact the Manistique Police Department immediately. Another community member, Alicia Darlene, posted a separate appeal asking if anyone had seen him, noting he was last seen in Manistique and urging people to share the post in hopes that he would be found safe.

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For days, family members and community residents waited and hoped. The posts spread widely across social media, a testament to just how many people cared about Mark and wanted to see him come home. Friends, neighbors, and even strangers shared the appeals and held onto hope.

Sadly, that hope was not realized. Frances Stabile delivered the heartbreaking update that no family ever wants to share. In an emotional Facebook post, she announced that Mark had passed away, writing that God had decided it was his time to go and that the family was devastated.

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She described how his loss leaves a void in their hearts that cannot be filled, and she expressed deep gratitude for the outpouring of love, prayers, and well wishes the family had received throughout the ordeal.

“To know him was to love him,” Frances wrote, a simple but powerful tribute that captured the kind of person Mark was to those who had the privilege of knowing him.

GoFundMe Campaign Created to Help Cover Funeral Costs

In the wake of Mark’s sudden and unexpected passing, his family was left not only grieving but also facing the financial burden of planning a funeral they were never prepared for.

A GoFundMe campaign was launched by Tina Lubbers and Frances Jenerou to help cover funeral and memorial expenses.

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The campaign, titled “Forever in Our Hearts: Mark Brooks,” set a goal of $6,500. As of the time of this writing, the campaign has raised more than $5,700 from 59 donors, reaching 86 percent of its goal.

Donations have poured in from people who clearly loved Mark or were moved by the family’s story. The top donation of $725 came from Joseph Brooks, with several others giving $200 and $100 contributions.

In the campaign description, the family described Mark as a son, a family member, a friend, and someone who meant the world to many people. They asked for any help possible to give him the beautiful and peaceful farewell he deserved.

The response from the community has been overwhelming. Dozens of donors have stepped up within just a couple of days, reflecting the widespread affection people held for Mark Brooks.

His family continues to ask that those who cannot donate consider sharing the campaign page and keeping their family in their prayers during what they describe as one of the darkest moments of their lives.