Mark Stanke

Mark Alan Stanke, 52, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri left this world on Friday, December 19, 2014 at 9:50 pm after a courageous battle with cancer. His passing was peaceful, surrounded by the family and friends that he loved. Mark was born on March 2, 1962 in Oakland, California, the son of Robert Stanke and Portia Wassman Stanke, who moved their family to Independence, Missouri in 1969. Mark was an awarded athlete in high school and college. While playing football for Truman High School, he was All Area and All Conference-1st Team Offense and Missouri High School All Star Team. Mark was also an All American Junior Olympic volleyball player and on the national tournament championship team in 1980. At Graceland University, he played both football and volleyball and was Heart of America All-Conference his Junior and Senior years. Mark worked at Chrysler Corporation for 15 years before becoming a partner at ProCorp Images and Team Heads. Mark loved watching his son play football at Washington University in St. Louis and was very proud of his daughter’s accomplishments as an artist. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, spending summers at their camp on Bog Lake in Northfield, ME and many hunting seasons at the family farm in northern MO. Additionally, he loved his Hawaiian heritage and visiting his Kon family in the Islands. He leaves behind his wife of 27 years, Elizabeth “Lilibet" Whitney Stanke of Lee’s Summit, MO, his daughter Brooke Whitney, 23, and his son Alec Winslow, 21, his parents, Robert Stanke and Portia Wassman Stanke of Independence, MO, three sisters, Tani Miller and husband David of Blue Springs, MO, Laura Billings and husband Robert of Shawnee, KS, and Heather Campbell and husband Patrick of Liberty, MO, mother-in-law Virginia “Ginnie" Whitney of Machias, ME, sister-in-law Helen “Hedy" Whitney Ardito and husband Gregory of Pipersville, PA, and brother-in-law David Whitney and wife Holly of Marshfield, ME. Uncle Mark was adored by his 12 nieces and nephews and was a passionate supporter of their many sporting events. Mark is proceeded in death by his father-in-law Dale Whitney, grandparents Albert and Eunice Stanke and Robert and Winifred Wassman, uncles Robert Wassman II and Alvin Stanke, and Aunt Marjorie Stanke Nemeth. Mark leaves behind a legacy of love, honor, hard work, intelligence, humor, friendship, strength, insight and a deep and warm quality of caring for others. Mark was well regarded by many as a kind friend who went out of his way to make others feel cared for. Most important to him was his family - his selfless commitment to his wife, children and extended family will live on through them. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, December 28, 2014 at 2:30 pm at Good Shepherd Community of Christ, 4341 Blue Ridge Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64133. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to the Life Raft Group in support of GIST cancer research at www.liferaftgroup.org Online condolence memories may be expressed at www.speakschapel.com (Arrangements: Speaks Suburban Chapel (816) 373-3600)