FORT WAYNE – Mark E. McKrill, 47, passed away peacefully Jan. 17, 2012, in his residence, surrounded by his family.
He was born in Warsaw to Benjamin Lester and Sally Bunting McKrill, who survive in Warsaw. On Oct. 22, 1988, he married Sara Elliott, who survives.
Growing up in Warsaw, he loved hunting, riding mini bikes and playing baseball and football. He was a 1982 graduate of Warsaw Community High School and a 1987 graduate of Manchester College. He earned an accounting degree and passed the CPA exam on his first attempt. He enjoyed being No. 56 and the center on the Spartan football team. During his senior year, he was diagnosed with Hodgkins. He went through successful radiation and chemotherapy treatments and returned to Manchester to finish his degree and that is when he met his wife, Sara. She was a cheerleader and he became her “lifter.” They battled his illnesses side by side for 23 years. He showed his toughness and faith as he battled Hodgkins two more times along with a multitude of other diseases and complications. His survival each time was a miracle. His belief on his illnesses: “If someone learns something from treating me that can help others, then that is why I’m going through this.” He had a quiet, but undeniable strong faith in God. Between illnesses he loved wood working, refinishing antiques, computers (guru at heart), playing euchre and Blackjack, and watching his daughter, Morgan, dance. He was a CPA at Ernst and Young for nine years and worked at Zimmer, Warsaw, in business intelligence for three years. However, disability gave him his most important job as he was a stay-at-home dad for Morgan for the last 10 years.
Also surviving are a daughter, Morgan, Huntertown; a brother, Allan (and spouse Amber) McKrill, Warsaw; a sister, Jo (and spouse Stan) Wall, Warsaw; nieces and nephews; great-nieces and -nephews; Dexter, Smokey, and Tigger, his feline buddies; and his in-laws, Jake and Barbara Morgan Elliott, Bourbon, who considered Mark to be their son.
Service will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at D.O. McCombs & Sons Pine Valley Park, 1320 E. Dupont Road, Fort Wayne, officiated by Pastor Greg Hiatt of Huntertown Methodist Church. Burial will be in Tippecanoe Cemetery.
Calling is from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and one hour prior to the service Sunday at the funeral home. ***** Memorials may be made to Morgan’s education fund.
