Industry mourns Marysville Marine Distributors Owner Mark Knust

MARYSVILLE, Mich. – Marysville Marine Distributors sadly mourns the loss of its owner and president, Mark Knust. Knust, 61, passed away from natural causes on Tuesday, Jan. 19.

Knust was a graduate of Western Michigan University where he was a scholarship player on their football team, and later a pitcher on their baseball team. He joined Marysville Marine in 1985 and served as its president for nearly three decades. He eventually purchased the company from Marysville Marine’s founder Rod Smith.

Knust is survived by his wife, Janet L. Knust, and two children, Kelly (Bradley) Knust-Herms and Kevin Knust.

Funeral services took place Saturday, Jan. 23 at Smith Family Funeral Home in Port Huron, Mich. Memorials may be made to the Community Foundation of St. Clair County in St. Clair County, Mich.

Succeeding Knust as president of Marysville Marine will be Matt Harvey, a former salesperson and general manager for the company, who most recently was regional vice president at Forever Resorts. Harvey brings with him 35 years of marine industry and leadership experience, as well as a close relationship with many of his past coworkers at Marysville Marine.

“It saddens me to assume this role under these circumstances,” says Harvey. “However, it is my every intention to honor my longtime friend, Mark Knust, by executing the vision he had for Marysville Marine throughout the coming years. He was a kind and giving leader who cared deeply about the people who he worked with. All of us at Marysville Marine intend to honor Mark’s memory by continuing to operate with the values he instilled in us all – honesty, integrity and fairness.”