Mark Bastian

For 61 years, 6 months, and 15 days Mark Bastian lived. Born September 14, 1960, to Donald and Mary Belle Bastian in Bozeman, Montana; he spent his childhood as one should - outside, playing in creeks, fishing, camping, and laying pennies on the railroad track with his friends.

In high school Mark was known for being helpful, kind, and athletic. Early on Mark developed a knack for teaching and coaching others and this carried on to his children’s little league and softball teams, friends’ kids, and nearly anyone who crossed the threshold and entered his living room over the years.

In 1981 Mark married his high school sweetheart, Lisa James, and they completed college at Kansas State University. Mark and Lisa had two bright and loving children who never argued or disobeyed. Andy and Ashley learned to play ball, fish, build a derby car, ride bikes, enjoy a good book, obsess over a puzzle, and fall asleep in a busy room from their father. They also learned the value of hard work, resilience, and the art of telling a good story. As sometimes happens, Mark and Lisa ended their marriage and he moved back home to Coffeyville.

There he found work managing the flour mill for many years. He also found a beautiful and charismatic new dance partner with an unrestrained laugh and a smile as big as Texas. In 2004 Mark married Heather Pritchard and became mentor and father-figure to her two children, Samantha and Justin. Together they built a welcoming home that often saw friends and family at the dinner table or swinging by just to shoot the breeze.

Not long after their marriage, Mark started experiencing what would become an unreasonable portion of health problems. Over the past 15 years Mark experienced kidney failure, hip replacements, a few different cancer diagnoses, and sometimes it felt like getting kicked while he was down. It was through his own resilience and the bounty of friendships he fostered that he kept getting back up and living life as fully as possible. From keeping score at high school games to volunteering at the Dalton Museum, Mark found ways to be with people and contribute. A born extrovert, Mark would only turn down an opportunity to fish or mushroom hunt or go to a game if he absolutely had to.

The pride of Mark’s life was his grandchildren. He could often be found with them in his lap hearing a story, beside him in the kitchen cooking, casting a line he baited for them, or taking them around town. It is for Addy, Juliet, and Violet Dawson, Zander Holler, Emerson and Autumn Bastian, and Alyssa and James Hurst that he fought so hard, and they brought joy to his life every day.

It was on the warm and beautiful day of March 29, 2022, that the skies rejoiced to welcome Mark to eternal life where he is free from bodily pain. He passed holding his wife and daughter’s hands, surrounded by the women who loved him most, including Samantha and his faithful and kind nurse T.J.

Mark was preceded in death by his father, Donald Bastian, his sisters, Laurinda Jones and Lynn Morrow, brothers-in-law Mark Jones and Preston Morrow, and father-in-law Mike Pritchard.

An indelible loss will be carried on by those who survive him. That includes his wife Heather Bastian, his mother, Mary Belle Bastian, his brother whom he lovingly called his hero, Kent Bastian, his sister-in-law Janie Bastian, his children, Andy (Karen) Bastian, Ashley (Pete) Dawson, Samantha Holler, Justin Hurst, his eight grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and countless friends.

Memorial Services celebrating Mark's life will be held on Saturday, April 9, 2022, at 10:00am at Westside Christian Church, 402 N. Ohio, Coffeyville, Kansas, with Mike Elrod officiating.  The family has requested memorial contributions to be made payable to American Kidney Fund, 11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20852 or may be left in are of Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel, 2405 Woodland Ave., Coffeyville, Kansas 67337.  To leave an online condolence or share a memory visit www.fordwulfbrunschapel.com