Marvin T. Fabyanske, 78, died Aug. 15, 2023, less than a month after being diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
Marv graduated from Alexander Ramsey High School in 1963, where he met Margee in ninth grade. Together they sang in the varsity high school choir, inspiring a lifelong love of music.
Marv received his Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1967 and married Margee that fall. While working at Honeywell, he decided to attend law school at William Mitchell to pursue a career in patent law. A job offer from a large law firm growing its practice in construction law changed his career trajectory.
In 1981, he co-founded the law firm now called Fabyanske, Westra, Hart & Thomson, PA. It is still widely respected as one of the finest construction law firms in the country. In later years, Marv enjoyed serving on arbitration panels and spending more time “making sawdust” in his workshop. He found his bliss fine-tuning improvements to a rustic cabin property on Lake Superior, where he and Margee hosted countless friends and provided their grandchildren a memorable retreat.
Ever productive, Marv’s craftsmanship as a woodworker adorns the home of every family member and many friends, as well as Falcon Heights Church, where he and Margee belonged since 1972.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Margaret A. (Margee) Fabyanske, and his children Tyson, Jordan, Tanya, Logan and Allison. He is also survived by his sister Gail Westby and 10 grandchildren.
His funeral service has been held at the church. Memorial donations may be made to Sugarloaf: North Shore Stewardship Association, sugarloafnorthshore.org, a charity with a nature center, trails and educational programs at Sugarloaf Cove near the family’s cabins.
