My name is Cindy Grosskopf, and I am the daughter of Phil and Mary Starr, the owners of Starr Aggregates, a gravel pit in Michigan.

Two days before the fire, Phil and Mary celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. At work — because that's where you'll always find them. Sunday belongs to God. Every other day belongs to the gravel pit.

On March 14th, a fire destroyed the pit garage at Starr Aggregates, their Michigan gravel pit. It is a total loss. The generators that powered the operation, every tool, all electrical infrastructure, and the well tank and pressure switch that supplied their water — gone. The cause is still under investigation.

This is the third major fire of their lives. Each time, they prayed, got back up, and went back to work. No complaints. No asking for help.

Phil is 85 and still shows up every day to clean up and move forward. Mary is 83 and still runs the office. Between them, they carry serious health challenges — but slowing down is not the same as giving up.

Restoring power alone is expected to exceed $600,000. Insurance falls far short.

They would never ask for help. So we're asking for them.

If you feel led — donate, share, or simply pray. Our family is grateful beyond words.

Their Full Story

Two days before the fire, Phil and Mary celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. They celebrated at work — because that's where you'll find them. These days they work Monday through Friday, with Saturdays by appointment only — Sunday has always belonged to God, and that will never change. But every other day this past week, Phil has been out there. Cleaning up. Moving forward. At 85 years old. Because that's just who he is.

On March 14th, a fire destroyed the pit garage at Starr Aggregates, the business Phil and Mary have poured their lives into for decades. The cause is still under investigation. What isn't in question is the damage — it is a total loss. The fire burned so hot it melted wiring, electrical panels, and every component that powered the property. The generators that powered the operation, every tool, all electrical infrastructure, and the well tank and pressure switch that supplied the office with water were all destroyed, leaving them with no running water. They do have a larger generator dedicated to running the plant, but it cannot be pulled from that duty. For the office, they are making do with a small generator, but it isn't powerful enough to run heat or fully support operations.

This is the third major fire of their lives.

In the 1980s, they lost their business garage at their home — with no insurance. Four years ago, the pit office burned to the ground. Each time, Phil and Mary did what they always do: they prayed, they got back up, and they went back to work. No complaints. No asking for help. Just faith, grit, and each other.

In the midst of the devastation, their first response was gratitude — that no one was hurt. And for Mary, something else came rushing back. At the first fire decades ago, the song that carried her through was "He Lives" — I serve a living Savior, He's in the world today. On March 14th, standing in the shadow of the flames, that same song came to her mind again. Some things don't change. Their faith never has.

For decades, Phil and Mary ran this gravel pit without traditional electricity — the cost to bring power in was always too high. They made it work with generators, ingenuity, and determination. That entire system is now gone. DTE's preliminary estimate to bring in the level of power this operation requires is around $400,000 — and with electrician work and on-site infrastructure, the total is expected to exceed $600,000. That doesn't include rebuilding the garage or replacing every tool that was lost, right down to the grease guns used to maintain the equipment. Insurance will cover only a fraction of it.

What makes this even more humbling is what they carry quietly every day. Phil has battled diabetes for 45 years, lives with stage 4 kidney disease, neuropathy, and other serious health challenges. Mary has macular degeneration and still manages to run the office. Age and illness have slowed them down — they'd be the first to admit they can't do everything they once could. But slow down is not the same as give up. They keep pushing. Every single day, they keep pushing.

Phil is 85. Mary is 83. They have spent their lives doing things the right way — honestly, quietly, and with God at the center of it all. They have never asked for help. Not even when they had nothing.

Every dollar raised will go directly toward:

• Restoring electricity to the property

• Replacing tools and equipment destroyed in the fire

• Rebuilding the pit garage

• Getting a larger generator and restoring running water

• Helping Phil and Mary find stable footing after this devastating loss

They have rebuilt before. By the grace of God, they will rebuild again. But this time, they don't have to do it alone — and I don't want them to.

If you feel led to help — through a donation, a shared post, or a prayer — our family is grateful beyond words. Phil and Mary would never ask. So we're asking for them.