Mark Arends

Mark Arends, 53, of Alden, passed away Sunday, October 8, 2023 at Hansen Family Hospital. A public visitation will be held from 1-4 PM on Saturday, October 14, 2023 at the River's Edge Church in Iowa Falls with a 3 PM prayer service. Woodley Funeral Home and Crematory of Iowa Falls is caring for Mark and his family. Mark Cleve Arends was born on September 18, 1970 to Sherman Paul and Marcia Anne (Stripling) Arends. Mark grew up in LuVerne, Iowa. He pitched in high school where he was given the nickname “Shark”. He graduated from Corwith-Wesley-LuVerne High School class of 1989. After high school, Mark moved to Iowa Falls and attended Ellsworth Community College. He was a member of the baseball team. During the summer of 1990, he met Kris. She learned that if she wanted to spend time with him, she better learn how to play golf, as he loved to golf. They later wed on July 30, 1994. The couple had three boys: Brannon, Kyle and Carter. Mark worked and managed Sieg Auto Parts in Iowa Falls starting in 1990 then Iowa Falls Implement and Marine until 2014. He became owner of Iowa Falls Marine in 2014. Mark enjoyed being busy. He joined several leagues early on: golf league, pool league and bowling league. When the boys were young, he coached them in soccer, little league and YSF football. For several years Mark was a youth group leader at the IMUCC church. He went to Kansas City every year with them on mission trips. Mark was very dedicated to the Iowa Falls Alden Little League program. Besides coaching for several years, he also served on the board and eventually as board president. He played an integral role in the construction of the Floyd Burton Little League Field in Alden. He took pride in that, and even when he was done serving on the board, he continued to help with field maintenance and upkeep. Mark and Kris always looked forward to their annual trip to an MLB game. Their goal was to attend a game at all 30 major league ballparks. He enjoyed hunting, the outdoors and grilling. He loved his business, Iowa Falls Marine. He took pride in his work. It was and extension of him. Mark was good humored and witty. Always enjoyed giving people a hard time. He never met a stranger. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother. His greatest joy was his three boys and he absolutely loved being a grandpa to Adalee. She had him wrapped around her finger. He said he would never tell her no. Mark Arends is survived by his wife, Kris Arends of Alden, Iowa; children, Brannon (Cadie) Arends (and their daughter Adalee) of Humboldt, Iowa, Kyle (Emily) Arends of West Des Moines, Iowa, Carter Arends (Bridget Berven) of Alden, Iowa; sisters, Joni (Dave) Torkelson of Humboldt, Iowa, Lori (Will) Woodruff of Boone, Iowa and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Sherman Arends; mother, Marcia Arends and paternal and maternal grandparents.

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Mark Arends

September 18, 1970 - October 8, 2023