Marcel George Tilmant, age 97, passed away peacefully on the morning of March 21, 2026, in Canton, Ohio. Marcel was born on September 2, 1928, in Barbençon, Belgium, a region of Hainault in Walloon-speaking southern Belgium. He grew up in the working-class town of Charleroi, Belgium in the 30s and 40s in a time marked by scarcity, resilience, and rebuilding. Following the war, in August 1947, Marcel emigrated from Belgium with his parents, beginning a new chapter in the farmland of Ohio.

Not long after arriving in America, Marcel met and fell in love with June Plott, whom he married on August 20, 1950. Together, they built a life of devotion, hard work, and quiet faithfulness. Marcel built a beautiful home near Minerva for his young family. After several years, he purchased a farm near Augusta, Ohio, where he and June raised their six children.

A skilled carpenter, Marcel began his trade as a teenager apprenticed to a master craftsman. He carried that discipline and pride in his work throughout his life. He was a man who preferred steady labor over words—faithful, diligent, and committed to working with his hands. He was content with the rhythm of country life: time in his workshop, driving his tractor, and tending the land he cared for so deeply. The family farm was not only a place of work, but a place of beauty and belonging.

Marcel is survived by his six children: Timothy of Augusta, Ohio; Mark (Debbie) of Mount Vernon, Ohio; Joel (Erin) of Mount Vernon, Ohio; Susan (Greg) of Brentwood, Tennessee; Annette (Dave) of Mount Vernon, Ohio; and Becky (Bob) of Noblesville, Indiana. He is also survived by nineteen grandchildren and thirty-eight great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, June; his parents, George and Valerie (Boroski) Tilmant; his siblings, Robert Tilmant, Ralph Tilmant, and Muriel Goormastic; his granddaughter, Brienna Beer; and his great-granddaughter, Evie Grace Myers.

In his later years, Marcel remained on the family farm under the loving care of his son Tim—a gift made possible by the shared devotion of all six of his children. They honored him in word and deed, surrounding him with comfort and care through his final days.

Marcel loved the Lord and lived with a quiet, steady faith. He now rests in the presence of his Savior, whom he trusted and looked toward with eager expectation.

Funeral services will be Saturday at 2:00 pm in the Gotschall-Hutchison Funeral Home in Minerva with Philip Merki officiating. Burial will be in Augusta Cemetery. Calling hours will be held 2 hours prior to services from noon to 2:00 pm at the funeral home. Those wishing to send condolences may sign the online register at www.gotschallfuneralhome.com.