Mark Joseph Noonkester Jr.

On Sunday, March 17th, Mark "MJ" Joseph Noonkester, Jr., passed away at home at the age of 17. MJ remained an avid reader and a burgeoning film creator in the Magnet Film Department at Del Sol Academy of the Performing Arts in Las Vegas. MJ's diverse tastes ranged from theology and Alexandre Dumas to J. K. Rowling and Stephen King, the latter influencing MJ's films, which premiered last year in the Del Sol Film Festival.
MJ was deeply involved in the community. MJ achieved the rank of Star Scout in Troop 848 of Las Vegas, and was actively working towards achieving Life Scout, with plans to ultimately reach Eagle Scout. MJ regularly attended Youth Group at Community Lutheran Church, volunteered regularly for the homeless outreach organization Feed My Sheep of Las Vegas, and supported the local LGBTQ+ community. As a child, MJ played with Paradise Valley Little League Association for 6 years. Friends and family characterized MJ as quirky, intellectual, with a sharp sense of humor, yet a genuinely loving soul.
MJ's spirit reunites with that of his "Papa" Gyraine Reinhart, who shared a deep bond with MJ and inspired a life-long love of trains and responsibility for a family of turtles, and maternal grandfather Jack Hennessy. MJ is survived by the following family: mother, Kim (Hennessy) DePatie; father, Mark Noonkester, Sr.; sister, Elizabeth DePatie; maternal grandmother, Florence Garrity; paternal grandmother Mary Ellen Robinson; paternal grandfather, Obie Joe Noonkester; uncle, Jack Hennessy Garrity 7 Nations; uncle, Daniel Hennessy; and aunt Bonnie Garrity. Additionally, MJ predeceased dozens of aunts, cousins, and uncles of the Garrity, Grande, Hennessy, and Noonkester clans of Massachusetts and California.
A memorial Service will be held at 5 PM on April 2 at the Community Lutheran Church on 3720 E. Tropicana Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89121.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that those who would like to express their sorrow at MJ's passing donate to the Del Sol Cinematic Film Department, which provided an outlet for MJ's imaginative and intelligent spirit. Donations will go directly to the Film Department's teacher, Adam Jones, and students needs and may be made at the link below, https://venmo.com/code?user_id=3093095491043328904
or Venmo @Remembering_MJ