| Mark A. McGuire was born on September 6, 1968, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Barbara and Alvin McGuire. He attended Blair Public Schools where his love of football began with playing full-tackle football during recess - on the blacktop. He continued to play all through high school with a team that called him “Preacher.” They won most of their games, “Because,” he said, “we did not know how to lose.” They won because that was how they knew how to play. Mark carried that attitude of putting everything he had into everything he did for the rest of his life.
Mark earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry and mathematics from Peru State College in Peru, Nebraska, and went on to study chemical engineering at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas.
In 1991, Mark began went to work for Davis Process as a sales representative using his education in chemistry and engineering. Davis was bought and sold numerous times until being a part of Evoqua Water Technologies. The name on the business cards changed, but he continued to work in the same role for the next 30 years. He loved traveling and working to solve problems for his customers.
Mark was married to Kimberly (Blann) McGuire in the fall of 1998, and they moved into their home in Overland Park, KS. Mark’s interests changed, but he threw himself and his love for shopping into each one. From stereo equipment to animation art, from lawn care equipment to woodworking tools, Mark was always looking for a bargain. “It was on sale, so I had to buy it!”
After their son Noah was born, Mark focused on things they could do together. When Noah needed someone to coach his little league baseball team, Mark, the football guy, jumped in. He found people who knew what he did not know about the game and recruited them as coaches. Over the course of the next six seasons, the one team grew into a small program of three teams of boys. They played together to win but more importantly love the game.
While being a part of Scouts BSA, Mark and Noah enjoyed many scouting activities together. They spent many hours designing and building pinewood derby cars. It was through scouts that together they began a love of shooting sports. They enjoyed time on the shooting range and teaching others about the sport as NRA-certified instructors. Whatever it was, the most important part was they did it together.
Mark loved Jesus and was always part of a church family. He cared deeply for his family, his neighbors, and his friends. Whatever he had, he would gladly give you, but most of all, Mark hoped for those he knew to know the peace of God through Jesus in their lives.
Mark went on to glory on September 11, 2021. Mark is survived by his wife, Kim, and son, Noah, of Overland Park, Kansas; his mother Barbara McGuire, of Blair, Nebraska; sister, Ruth (Greg) Varner, of Dayton, Ohio; and brother, John (Jennifer) McGuire, of Savannah, Georgia; along with 6 nieces, Sarah, Hannah, Esther, Sofia, Otillie, and Edith Bee; and 2 nephews, Daniel and Timothy. He was preceded in death by his father, Alvin McGuire.
The visitation will be held at Johnson County Funeral Chapel (11200 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, Kansas 66210) on Tuesday, September 21, 6:00-8:00 p.m. The funeral service will take place at Westside Family Church (8500 Woodsonia Drive, Lenexa, Kansas 66227) on Wednesday, September 22, 11:00 a.m.
~~~Obituary courtesy of Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska~~~ |