Mark G. Einan

Mark Gregory Einan, age 68, of Mankato, passed peacefully on Saturday, March 25, 2017, at Mayo Clinic Health System - Mankato.

Visitation will be at 1:00 p.m. followed by the funeral service at 2:00 p.m., Friday, March 31, 2017, at the Wellcome Manor Family Center (old high school gym) in Garden City.  Interment will be in Garden City Cemetery. Memorials may be given to Middleground Ministries.  Northview-North Mankato Mortuary handled the arrangements.

Mark was born in Minneapolis, MN on September 27, 1948, to Henry and Margaret (DeLanghe) Einan. During Mark’s younger years, the Einan family lived beside the Minnehaha Creek where Mark developed a love of the outdoors. In his early years, Mark enjoyed many summers helping on the DeLanghe farm in Marshall, MN. During his senior year of high school (Edina), Mark’s popularity and charm earned him the title of Homecoming King. That same month, he won the Ugly Man Contest with his creative Halloween costume. Mark was known for his warm and friendly personality and great sense of humor. He freely shared his heart and his faith with those around him. There were no “strangers” in Mark’s eyes - only friends yet to be made.  Mark proudly served his country overseas in the Air Force during the Vietnam Era.

On December 15, 1990, Mark married the love of his life, Kathy (Kathleen Lang). Together, as pastors, they ministered in a local fellowship they had launched called Middleground Ministries. Their mission as a couple was to help reach the underserved within the community. They provided shelter, counseling, and other help to those in need. For the past several years, Mark and Kathy have also pastored the Garden City Christian Church. Mark encouraged and uplifted countless people with his words of wisdom, story telling, and gift of music.

Pastor Mark was a highly skilled musician, playing piano, guitar, drums, harmonica, banjo, penny whistle, and the dobro. His rich baritone voice could sing a perfect rendition of Blue Moon. During high school, he was in a band called The Avengers. In the early 70’s, he performed with Blackwood and The Daisy Dillman Band.  More recently, his passion for music gave expression in the church band, Spirit ‘n’ Truth, where he and Kathy played and sang songs of praise and worship that they had composed together. Mark knew how to live life to the fullest. Not long ago, he and his wife were at a convention in an auditorium packed with thousands of people. During one of the breaks, the music that was playing inspired Mark to spontaneously grab Kathy’s hand and start dancing in the aisle to the cheers of those all around them.

Mark was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Marge Einan and sister, Eileen Fiumara. He is survived by his wife, Kathy Einan; his brother, Paul Einan; son, Jason Gray; grandsons, Christopher, Jacob, and August Gray; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.