John Marona Obituary

Michael Marona of Durango was to called to heaven on the morning of Saturday, March 11, 2017. He was a bright light that brought great joy to all who really knew and loved him. Born at the old Mercy hospital on September 15, 1987, he passed at only 29 years old. Although he didn't have a lot of time, he built a beautiful life in the time he had.
Michael was a Durango kid through and through. He developed a deep love of the outdoors and our mountains began at an early age. He became an avid kayaker, mountain biker and backpacker. He enjoyed camping, fly fishing and precision shooting. Michael particularly enjoyed sharing his passion for skiing with his brother, Marshall. He cherished family and was deeply devoted to his mother, father and brother.
During the summer of his junior year at Durango High School, Michael experienced a defining moment that would change the course of his life. It was early August, he desperately wanted to ski. He drove with a buddy to Cinnamon Pass in search of a patch of snow. Loaded with gear and skis lashed to their packs they climbed toward a steep snow filled gully. Michael heard a noise and turned back to see his friend tumbling down the mountainside, beaten by the rocks and the skis. He found his friend lapsing in and out of consciousness, bleeding and broken. Michael dragged, carried and when conscious aided his friend back to the truck and delivered him to the hospital. In that moment, he decided that he didn't want to be that guy that didn't know how to help a friend. He earned a Basic Emergency Medical Technician certificate before he graduated from DHS. That event caused him to realize that he wanted to serve. Shortly after, he was accepted into with Durango Fire and Rescue Authority's fire academy. He served with DFRA for two years as an EMT-B and Firefighter 1. His sense of belonging to a brotherhood of fire and his compassion sparked him to create a fund and seek donations to help the families of the victims of the Granite Peaks tragedy.
He spent a summer on a brush truck with DFRA's wildland crew. That's where it all clicked for Michael. He had found a way to serve, live and work in the beauty of the mountains. He did attend classes at Fort Lewis College, but ultimately, going to school between fire seasons, he earned an associates degree in Fire Science from Red Rocks Community College in Denver. He also attended the West Metro District Fire Academy. Michael worked with several wildland firefighting crews here in Colorado and Utah. But, it was in Idaho and Montana that he found his home. He worked in Salmon, Idaho as a heli-rappeler. And, most recently with the Bitteroot Hot Shots based out of Darby, Montana. The bone breaking work was hard and dangerous; but he loved it. He loved being in the majesty of America's most beautiful mountains. But, above all, he cherished having been accepted into a family, a brotherhood of elite firefighters. And, to them, the Marona family will always be grateful.
Michael is survived by his mother Mary Marona, father Christopher Marona, his brother Marshall Marona, uncles, aunts, cousins and a broad network of friends. A service will be held at Christ the King Lutheran Church on Thursday, March 23 at 12 noon. Pastor Tim Orlowski will officiate. At 5pm, there will be a celebration of life at the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Museum and event center. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Michael's name to the Wildland Firefighter's Foundation @ wffoundation.org.