Condolences
“Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It’s the transition that’s troublesome”
~Issac Asimov
While death remains one of life’s greatest mysteries, it is our faith and resilience that helps ease the pain of losing a loved one.
If you would like to write a condolence to the family click on the headline above, or the comments link below, and submit your post at the bottom of the page.
November 3rd, 2006 at 10:24 am
Kathy and family please accept our deepest sympathy at Mark’s passing. We can’t think of anything worse than losing such a loved one.
Jerry & Darlene
November 3rd, 2006 at 10:28 am
Kathy, We were so sorry to hear of your loss. We will keep you and Erica in our prayers.
Lou & Louise
November 3rd, 2006 at 10:28 am
Kathy, Everyone is sad, but no one knows the pain you feel as Mark’s mother. I truly share your sorrow as I too have experienced this loss. When you need to talk to someone please contact me….There are no words to express my sympathy to you, Erica and your family.
Kris
November 3rd, 2006 at 10:29 am
Kathy and Family There is no more devastating thing in life than to lose a child. Such a thing weighs heavy on everyone’s heart who has has any knowledge or connection to the family. You will be in our prayers.
November 3rd, 2006 at 10:30 am
So sorry Kathy,Roger and family, our thoughts are with you all. May good memories of your son help you through this time of sorrow.
Kathlee
November 3rd, 2006 at 10:31 am
Kathy, We are in shock! We can’t imagine your and your families pain. Our hearts are heavy for all of you. You will be in our thoughts and prayers. Big hugs.
November 3rd, 2006 at 10:31 am
Dale and I are so very sorry for your loss. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
November 3rd, 2006 at 10:34 am
Kathy, I am so sorry for your loss. You and Erica are in my prayers. Someday we will know why things happen as they do, until that time we have to believe that God needed your son more than you did. I really don’t know what kind of comfort that is to you at this time but I hope it helps. If there is anything I can do for you, please let me know. Again I am so sorry for your loss.
November 3rd, 2006 at 10:35 am
Kathy, We were all so upset and sorry to hear about Mark’s passing. Please know that you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Paulette (David Keating’s mom)
November 3rd, 2006 at 10:35 am
We are very sorry to hear about Mark’s passing. Your family is in our thoughts and prayers.
November 3rd, 2006 at 10:36 am
Dear Kathy:
You are in our hearts, our thoughts and our prayers. May God bring you comfort and peace.
Terry & Bobbie
November 3rd, 2006 at 10:36 am
Kathy, I’m very sorry to hear about the loss of your son and I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. Remember you always have the support of your friends and family.
Priscilla
November 3rd, 2006 at 10:37 am
Kathy, I am so sorry to hear of Mark’s death. I remember how proud Dick was at his birth. My thoughts are with you.
November 3rd, 2006 at 10:38 am
Erica, Kathy, and Roger, I am very sorry to hear of Mark’s tragic passing. He was a talented, kind, and creative person. I am very sad for your loss. I always had affection for Mark like an older brother. Please contact me if you need anything at all.
November 3rd, 2006 at 10:39 am
Dear Kathy & Erica, We are so very sorry to hear about Mark passing away. We we will keep you both in our thoughts and prayers.
November 3rd, 2006 at 10:40 am
With deepest sympathy to the family, Marko will be truly missed by all who knew him. He was an angel here, now he is one in heaven.We will never forget the things you did and the person you were.
November 13th, 2006 at 4:14 pm
kathy and family, just wanted to say how sorry i am about your loss. i never knew mark personally but will always rememeber the stories you told of him. praying for you all and love you much!
December 9th, 2006 at 4:05 pm
Mrs. Patterson and Erica,
I can’t tell you how bad I feel about your loss. I have to tell you that I was shocked by the news. It seemed like one week I was reading an internet version of a news article about Mark helping to stop a robbery in Fort Collins, and the next week I was talking with Fritz on the phone about memories. As you know, I went to school with Mark starting in kindergarten, and we graduated together from North. We had some good times during those years and after. It is hard to believe that he is no longer with us.
I’m sorry that my wife Amy and I weren’t able to be in Michigan for the service. I’m glad to hear that many family and friends were able to attend, which is fitting for someone who will be remembered by many. He was a good friend and will be missed.
Mike Thill
La Plata, Maryland
December 31st, 2006 at 9:09 am
Dear Kathy and Erica,
I know this is being entered late, but you’ve both been in my thoughts these many weeks since October. This is especially true over the holidays, because holidays are very nostalgic times for me and I don’t have anywhere near as devasting a loss as the two of you do.
There are no words, of course, no poetry, no prayers, no quotes, no writings of anyone who can really offer comfort. You both have to endure this in your own way and time, with only the meager warmth that the two of you have together–a mother and a sister, each with your own thoughts and feelings. The comfort only lies in not being alone.
One thing you should know, and, again this is almost a pathetic offering. There are many of us out here who don’t call or contact you, but who think of you almost every day. We are parents and brothers and sisters–all who either knew Mark or you and Erica, and who gasp daily at the idea of losing someone so young from this life. The waste to all of you is mind-bending.
Mark was a great kid and a good person. I don’t know of his troubles and don’t really care about them. All I know is the great kid that I remember and tried to follow up on through the years after I moved away. He was, and always will be, a neat part of the Tanner life. Memories fade, but they never really go away, so he lives on in our hearts and heads.
Again, there are many of us who think about you every day. Maybe at some point in your lives we’ll be able to take on some of that “ache” and it won’t hurt so badly for the two of you.
(I have a picture that I will try to get to you–taken in April, 1985.)
Ferol
February 1st, 2007 at 4:57 pm
Mrs. Patterson and Erica,
I have visited this web page many times but could not bring myself to leave a comment. It is hard to explain how often I think of Mark and the two of you. Erica, I wish we could just go on one of our very long walks and talk for hours. But life is busy and we are no longer neighbors.
Mark was always kind and I have fond memories of watching him work on things (bikes, lawnmowers, cars, radios, etc.) We even went for a few bike rides to the park and around town.
I should have sent flowers last fall, no excuses. My parents were giving me updates daily but I should have contacted you in some way to let you two know that one more person had you and Mark in their prayers.
Thinking of you often, with love,
Tara
March 6th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
A very late entry from someone who didn’t have the pleasure of meeting Mark, but met his wonderful sister Erica through work. As she knows, I lost both of my parents in quick succession last year; but they had long and full lives - to lose a loving son and brother, and at such a young age, is something I can’t begin to comprehend. My thoughts go out to Kathy, Erica and all of Mark’s family and friends as you struggle to come to terms with this tragedy. It’s clear from this wondeful website that you’ll take great strength and comfort from each other, as I have been doing in my loss with my brothers and their families. With deepest sympathy, John Everett and family, Melbourne, Australia