Mark Allen Thompson

Sherrills Ford - Mark Allen Thompson-caring husband, father, son, brother and friend-passed away on November 2, 2023 in Charlotte, NC at the age of 60, surrounded by his loving family and close friends.

Mark made a lasting impression on all those who knew him-from his welcoming and open heart, curious mind and warm sense of humor, he was simply one of a kind. With his high school sweetheart, best friend and life partner Nancy (née Myers), Mark had four children who adored him. They, together with their partners, will carry on his legacy of generosity, love and support of family and kindness: daughter Jessica and her husband Alexander Schaper (Brooklyn, NY); son Kurt and his partner Sierra Makepeace (Tacoma, WA); daughter Rachel and her fiancé Kyle Laffey (Pacifica, CA); and daughter Olivia and her fiancé Rico Billups (Smyrna, GA).

Mark was born on March 11, 1963 and grew up in Yorkville, IL with his late father Daryl Thompson, mother Karel Thompson (Oswego, IL) and sister Janis Labroo (Oneonta, NY). Mark had a special relationship with his stepmother Mary Jo Savol (Geneva, IL), as well as his brothers-in-law and their families. Mark was a lifelong sports lover, football in particular, and remained a loyal Chicago Bears fan through thick and thin. He and Nancy enjoyed playing golf together and Mark supported Nancy's love of tennis-they often traveled to play new golf courses and watch professional tennis matches.

During his 30-year career with Caterpillar, Mark took international assignments in Belgium, Switzerland and Hong Kong, affording him and his family incredible experiences that shaped their lives. He developed a deep passion for food and wine, and was always the go-to source for a restaurant recommendation, whether a neighborhood BBQ joint or a fine dining establishment in New York City or Paris. As a history buff and skilled researcher, Mark committed considerable time and effort to genealogy. In 2021, he self-published a book about Nancy's father's ancestry and had recently finished a second book about his father's lineage.

For the past year, Mark had been battling Myelodysplastic Syndrome EB2. He underwent several rounds of chemotherapy and had a bone marrow transplant in April 2023. After months of hard-fought recovery, he was feeling his best since before starting treatment when in October, he unexpectedly went into cardiac arrest, which he survived. However, a few days later he developed pneumonia, from which he ultimately was unable to recover. Until the end he was lifted up by Nancy's unwavering devotion and love, as well as the support of his family and community. We will forever cherish his memory and every precious minute we had with him.

We will not be holding a service but please visit his site at caringbridge.com to share your favorite memories of Mark. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mark's honor can be made to Be The Match and World Central Kitchen.