Dearest Family & Friends who have prayed for 3 long years for our dear Mark, it is with great sadness we share that Mark went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, April 19, 2018 at 3:50pm. This past week Mark had been fighting extra hard through some very difficult days. When asked on Tuesday if he wanted to continue fighting, with the might that was in him, he replied "Absolutely!" with the desire to live for his family. It wasn't long and his organs began to shut down. Julie, Mary Kaelin and loved ones sat at his bedside at every moment. A dear friend prayed a powerful prayer that God's mercy would take Mark home peacefully to be with Him. It was a holy time as they felt a significant sense of God's unmistakable presence that permeated through the halls of the hospital. In the minutes that followed, Mark surrendered his spirit from the arms of Julie into the arms of Jesus.

Mark wanted more than anything to beat this cancer, and while he lost this battle, he "Absolutely!" won the war! Everything Mark talked of, believed in, surrendered to and lived for was accomplished when he claimed the victory in Christ, where he now resides with the Savior he loved so much. Because of Jesus, we have an eternity to look forward to. Mark embraced this Truth on earth and now fully experiences this Life in heaven. This is the sweet joy we find in the bitter as we grapple with losing our dear Mark.

Many of us grieve all over this country because he touched so many lives. Mark was a treasure. A heart unlike any other. A wise soul that kindly listened. A man of faith, kind, loyal, sacrificial, giving, trustworthy, tender-hearted, a confidant, and so funny. He adored & loved his family and cared deeply for his friends. He really did love everyone, always. Mark leaves a legacy of so much richness of character that many of us strive towards. No doubt, Mark will be missed uniquely and unlike any other.

All the support & prayers that have been poured out from so many of you is what has kept the Puccio's strong, encouraged and loved through these extremely difficult years. Their gratitude is limitless. We ask that you please continue to pray hard for Julie and MK. They are going to need your prayers/support in the days, weeks, months (and years) to come. The loss and heartache has left a painfully deep void. Julie said she now understands what it means to literally feel an aching hole in your heart. Please pray for peace and comfort to be found & experienced in the trenches of their heartache.

To Mark we say, thank you. Thank you for being who God made you to be. Thank you for touching countless lives. Thank you for being an example of what it means to love everyone always by extending grace and forgiveness. And thank you for leading the way to our Savior. Enjoy all that you've been promised by our Loving & Holy God! You are now MVP StrongER!