Mark Douglas Ayers Sr 1958-2011

AYERS, KIRCHMEIER, BACKMAN, BAKER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/24/2013 at 12:58:07

Sioux City Journal
8 December 2011

SIOUX CITY -- Mark Douglas Ayers Sr., 52, of Sioux City died Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011, at a Sioux City hospital following a three-and-one-half year tenacious battle with glioblastoma brain cancer.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Roger Madden officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Mark was born Dec. 8, 1958, in Sioux City, the son of William and Mary (Kirchmeier) Ayers. He grew up in Sioux City and attended West High School.

Mark married Christine Backman in 1980 and although it did not workout, he never would have changed a thing because they had two exceptional children, Melanie and Mark Jr. He married Ellen Baker on July 7, 1986, in Sioux City and it was true love. They added to the family three more amazing children, Cali, Daniel and William. He loved all five children wholeheartedly.

Mark worked for Sioux City Inspection for many years. He later worked for Agri-Blenders in Ripon, Wis., and then for Gary's Deluxe Feeds in Sheldon, Iowa. He worked extremely hard to be able to give to his family.

He was a proud member of First United Methodist Church. He knew how blessed he was. Family meant absolutely the world to Mark. He was a stellar dad, grandpa and husband. He loved to do random acts of kindness and was always the giver not the taker until his illness. He was humbled by the love of family and friends and we all will take with us his great gifts. He loved traveling with his family. He was an avid Green Bay Packers fan and enjoyed playing golf. In his youth, he played softball, where his nickname was "Cheeks."

Survivors include his wife, Ellen of Sioux City; his children, Melanie and her husband, Garrett Boardman of Sioux City, Mark Ayers Jr. of Sioux City, Cali and her husband, Tom Bahrenfuss of Sioux Falls, S.D., Daniel Ayers and his wife, Nikki of Sioux City, and William Ayers and his wife, Nikki of Orange City, Iowa; three brothers, Ken Ayers and his wife, Kathy of Nashville, Tenn., David Ayers and his wife, Lori of Champaign, Ill., and Billy Ayers of Bemidji, Minn.; two sisters, Karen Wells and Steven Tipton of Sioux City and Linda Herfel of Sioux City; and six grandchildren, Carter Bahrenfuss, Brody Bahrenfuss, Aliyah Ayers, Ashlynd Ayers, Mya Ayers and Mayson Ayers.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother Dennis "Duke"; and two infant siblings, Richard Tracy and Barbara Ann.

Pallbearers will be Steven Tipton, Mike Wells, Brian Wells, James Ayers, Jon Porterfield and Chuck Achuff.

Memorials may be made in his mane to the June E. Nylen Cancer Center.