Mark David Martin, 65 years of age, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, October 21, 2022, in Independence, Missouri.
Mark was born in Midland, Texas in 1957 to Barbara Coy Martin and Herschel Raye
Martin, both deceased. Mark grew up in many places – Texas, Louisiana and California – before graduating from Plano Senior High School. He graduated from Texas Tech University in 1980 with a degree in Accounting and worked for Conoco Oil Company before the Lord called him to His ministry. Mark received his Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri in 1991. He served as Pastor for Trinity Lutheran Church, Egypt Mills from 1993 – 2004 and as Associate Pastor for St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau from 2004-2019. Then, after completing training in Intentional Interim Ministry, he served at Concordia Lutheran Church in Sikeston from 2019-2021. He was serving as an Intentional Interim pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Independence at the time of his death.
Mark had many loves : his Lord, his wife Betty, his family, his motorcycle, history, all sports, the arts and finally learning how to sing. He lived a Christ-centered life with a deep abiding faith in God and tirelessly worked to do His will through his wise counsel and compassionate care. He was a loving husband, devoted father, and adoring grandfather.
Mark is survived by his wife Betty, his daughter Leah, his daughter Rachel, her husband Anthony and their children Matt, Lily and Melody, his sister Kris and her family, his cousins and their families and by the many thousands of friends and families whose lives he touched through his ministry.
A Service of Celebration will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 100 N. Frederick St., Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 on Sunday, November 6, 2022 at 2pm. It will also be live streamed on Trinity’s Facebook page. Visitation hours will be at Trinity Lutheran Church on Saturday, November 5, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to either LCMS Missouri District Shared Ministry fund or Monett Missouri High School Choir.
Meyers Funeral Chapel in Blue Springs has been entrusted with arrangements. Memories of Mark and words of comfort may be shared at meyersfuneralchapel.com.
Dear Betty and Family,
We are heartbroken over the loss of Pastor Mark but rejoicing in his salvation through our Lord. We will see you at the visitation. Prayers for all of you!
Betty, Lee, Rachel and family,
What a tremendous loss for everyone he touched. We were only blessed to have Pastor Mark in our lives for a short time but man did my faith ever grow! One things for sure He knew his a Lord and he wanted to share the knowledge! We will forever be thankful for God putting him in our lives!
Betty & Family-
Thinking of you as you grieve this loss. Hoping beautiful memories will bring you comfort. Our lives will forever be changed just knowing Pastor Mark. He gave us our faith back after covid and our whole family enjoyed his presence. Our oldest who was in confirmation with Pastor Mark keeps thinking of his laugh and how he made learning the scripture so fun and interesting. He will forever live in our hearts and prayers.
Dear Betty and family, Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. We rejoice in knowing that Mark’s faith was in a resurrected Lord and Savior. God’s peace to you.
Betty & Family,
You are in my thoughts and prayers. I met Pastor Mark a year ago when I moved to Independence and began attending St. Paul’s. His passion for God and serving others was evident in his preaching and teaching. I’ve been a Lutheran my entire life, and his Sunday Bible classes were the most interesting and informative, hands down! I especially enjoyed his desire to learn to sing. I am certain he is singing perfectly in God’s choir! Our world would be such a better place if we all lived by Pastor’s teaching: Love God, Love Others.
God’s peace to you.
How shocked and sad we all were to learn that our dear brother Pastor and my colleague for many years in youth and family ministry in the work of the Missouri District Office, had been called to his eternal peace and rest. To his close family we will pray God holds you close now, as we all need the encouragement and hope only Christ can give. In spite of how it seems and feels today, God guarantees this will end well and you will be reunited
Betty, our hearts are broken. Mark was such a good friend and riding buddy. We loved his preaching and his heart for God. He loved you so much and he will be so missed by all who knew him. Hugs across the miles, prayers and love always.
Pastor Mark:
Thank you for your help with guiding me closer to God. You are going to be missed here on Earth but your reward is in Heaven. To the family of Pastor Mark, I am very sorry for your loss and wish nothing but prayers and comfort to you.
I am so sorry for your loss. Pastor Mark was instrumental in getting me back to church after Covid and the loss of my husband. Also the last time he did communion for my sister in law and her husband he was telling her about his singing. Turned on Amazing Grace on his phone and sang it to them. They were both so touched.
Dear Betty and Daughters: I had the joy of working with your husband and dad in our KC Central circuit. He was constantly moving like a Texas jack rabbit from one hurting family or individual to another. He had a heart of compassion, open ears to listen to their pain, and a voice to share comfort from God’s Word to their situation. He helped strengthen the weak, lift up the tired and overwhelmed, and give direction to the congregation up here. We pastors will miss our brother in Christ, but know he is already serving up in heaven. Thanks for sharing him with us.
Betty and family,
I hope you know how appreciative I am of my time spent at St. Paul’s with Pastor Mark. In our short year spent together he taught me things I will carry for the rest of my life, and I am very thankful for that time. I am so sorry for your loss. Sending big hugs.
Betty so sorry for the loss of your husband. Please accept my deepest sympathy.
Dotty Gholson
Betty,
I was so sorry to learn of Mark’s passing. I remember that red-headed guy coming to the library. Please accept my condolences and prayers for you and your family.
Betty, My family and I send you prayers of peace and comfort. Pastor Mark was an inspiration to us all. I’m so glad we had Pastor baptize my granddaughter Avery a few weeks ago. I know he touched my daughters heart with his care and concern of their faith. I especially am going to miss him dearly. Peace and love to you and your family.
Dear Family and Friends,
The first time I met Pastor Mark was when he rode his motorcycle to Joplin, MO, and helped us in many ways with the recovery effort after the tornado. He touched many of our lives. I pray God will surround you with people to comfort you, just as Pastor Mark brought comfort to us in Joplin.
Jeremy Schamber, Principal
Martin Luther School
Joplin, MO
Betty and family I am so sorry for your loss. The heart break must be overwhelming. I am so appreciative of the time that i got to know Pastor Mark at St Pauls. He was so inspirational in his Bible Studies and so dedicated to teaching us God‘s word and coming together for God‘s love. I will be forever grateful for the love that he shared with our congregation. I pray that even in your sadness you feel peace and comfort knowing that he is rejoicing with our Lord and Savior.
Betty, I am so very sorry to learn of Mark’s sudden passing. You are in my prayers, friend.
Betty,
I am so sorry to hear of the death of your husband, may his memory be a blessing of comfort and strength in the days to come.
Betty, you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Betty, I’m so very sorry to hear of the loss of your husband. I think about you often. I am keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
Betty, I am so sorry to hear of the death of your husband. You and your family are in my prayers.
Betty, I’m so sorry for your loss. I wish I could have communicated with you under better circumstances. You and your family are in my thoughts. I hope that your friends, family, and strong faith will be of comfort to you during this difficult time.
My Sympathy to you and your family. You are in my prayers.