John Mark Anderson – Eulogy

Born December 19, 1952, in Yakima, WA, John Mark Anderson was the firstborn son of John Arthur Anderson and Dorothy Jean Harris. He was joined 14 months later by Philip Paul. The family was to suffer their first tragedy when their third son, Daniel Wayne, passed away at 4 months due to a heart condition. Dorothy went by train with her two sons to convalesce with her mother and father in Kansas City, KA. Even though he was still quite young, Mark proved to be a great help to his mother while she recuperated from this heartbreaking loss.

The family moved to California in 1957 and brother number three, Joel David, joined the family, followed 3 years later by an only sister, Carol Jeanette. The last Anderson to join the troops was Nathan Allen. John Mark was a big help in the care of his mother as each of these siblings joined the family and he loved to talk about his role as her caregiver. His father taught him the value of a good work ethic and became his first employer as they worked on construction projects. I’m not so sure he was paid minimum wage or had a good benefit package from this arrangement, but he learned things that were invaluable when he entered the work force.

Dorothy was a remarkable mother and regularly read aloud to her children, nurturing a love of learning in her offspring. John Mark was a bright and inquisitive child and began reading very young. He also showed great potential musically so began taking piano lessons at a young age. He continued studying piano through high school and it was common for him to practice four hours a day as he mastered difficult classical music pieces. The family’s pet parakeet loved to walk up and down the piano bobbing his head to the metronome and nibbling the tops of the music sheets as Mark practiced scales, arpeggios, and challenging concertos. He also began playing the violin in middle school and was a part of the high school orchestra. Music was a dominating part of Mark’s life and passion. He played in local jazz bands and in restaurants in Oakland for many years. During his last couple of decades, Mark’s gift of music was used to play for the glory of God, accompanying the Teen Challenge choir, along with contributing to the worship service at church. We will never forget the beautiful sounds that emanated from the melding of piano and voice as he played and sang about his love for his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

John Mark launched into the work force right out of high school, working at Napa Auto Parts. He showed an aptitude for organizing and management of inventory. Soon, he was asked to open stores in several locations in the South Bay, along Hwy 99, as well as in Marin County. He scouted out the store sites, and did all that was necessary to open the store, including stocking the inventory, hiring and scheduling salespeople, marketing, etc. Later, John Mark went on to work for a Title Company in Oakland for several years as well as becoming an Uber driver before retiring.

Mark was a gentle soul. He truly loved people, and it was easy for him to interact with those of all ages and backgrounds. His voracious reading allowed him to be able to converse knowingly about almost any topic and one never left a conversation wondering where he stood on a matter. He remained single throughout his life but was a beloved uncle to many nieces and nephews as young people were attracted to his smile and easy laugh, gleaning words of kindness, encouragement, wisdom, and guidance. He had memorized many Bible verses as a young child, and he loved to testify that Proverbs 22:6 was true indeed. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Mark suffered much physically but never complained. He was born with a congenital birth defect that effected his skeletal system. His feet were misshapen which caused him to often be in pain when standing much or walking, along with weak knees and no kneecaps. He had scoliosis of the spine and later dealt with a diagnosis of HIV which was contracted through tainted blood, a weak heart and eventual triple bypass, and years of dialysis. These challenges he faced with courage and never used his physical limitations as an excuse.

The inner man of John Mark grew more robust as his body aged. The life struggles that often kept him isolated from his family eventually pushed him into a true and meaningful relationship with the Lord Jesus. Alcohol had been introduced to Mark when he was a young man, and it sought to destroy his life and negatively affected his relationships. Eventually, he attended AA meetings and went through the Teen Challenge program which helped him tremendously. The brothers and sisters at the Miraculous Foundation Church also played an important role in helping Mark get back on track. He could relate to those who suffered in a beautiful way and had a compassionate outlook and encouraging words for those struggling with addictions. He had proven the power there is in love and prayer. As he learned to turn his will over to the Lord Jesus, he became stable and dependable. The last 6 months of his life demonstrated how a person can be extremely weakened physically yet be strong in spirit. As he battled the cancer that eventually took his life, he was faithful in exhorting anyone that would listen to be strong in their faith. “I am praying that your faith fail not…….” was a part of most conversations during this past year. He had developed into a pillar upholding the Truth and demonstrated a remarkable faith in the sovereignty and goodness of God. The last words that he spoke to his sister with a wry smile on his face were, “Listen, things aren’t as bad as they look.” His exhortations still ring in our ears!

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