Marcus Linn “Mark” Barackman, 59, of La Grange, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, with his wife by his side. Mark courageously fought cancer for a little more than 2 years.
Mark was born in Canton, IL, on May 12, 1962, the son of Bobby and Mary Alice (Lederbrand) Barackman. He grew up in Yates City, IL, and attended Yates City High School where he played baseball and graduated in 1980. After graduation, Mark attended trade school to become a welder. Mark worked for A+ Auto Body, located in central Illinois, as a vehicle repair man for many years. This vocation opened him to the hobby of restoring old cars and motorcycles. Mark began his career with State Farm Insurance in Peoria, IL, and was employed with them for 32 years before his retirement in June 2020. During this time, he held many positions including estimator, auto representative and technical support. For the past 15 years, he traveled as a part of State Farm’s catastrophe team, setting up claim offices across the United States for the catastrophe workforce. He was loved and respected by his co-workers and will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
Mark was blessed with his daughter, Britney, in 1989. While Britney was in school, Mark spent time coaching his daughter’s softball and basketball team. He loved his role as “coach” and his competitive edge led the teams to many victories. Britney and Mark shared a special father-daughter bond she will always cherish. He was so proud of the woman and mother she had become. He met his best friend, Claire Frick, and they were married on Sept. 28, 2013. They were blessed to share many years of friendship and marriage. In their spare time, Mark and Claire loved to dance and listen to live country music. They shared the same passion of travelling together to assist with catastrophes. They also enjoyed remodeling projects and he welcomed the opportunity to share his wood-working skills with others. There was no task too big or too challenging for him.
Mark was a Harley Davidson enthusiast and cherished his rides through the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. He was a true outdoorsman. Mark treasured his time hunting, fishing, grilling, golfing, and learning the life of a rancher through his father-in-law. An additional favorite pastime was rooting on the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mark will be always be remembered as a devoted son, beloved husband, amazing dad, and adoring Papa B.
He was a true family man and held a special place in his heart for his daughter and three precious grandchildren. Mark and Claire were blessed to return to Illinois on several occasions to spend quality time with his family, making wonderful memories. Although Mark’s family will miss him dearly, they find comfort in knowing he is now at peace.
He is survived by his wife, Claire; father, Bobby Barackman of Farmington, Ill.; daughter, Britney Gunter and husband Justin of Brimfield, Ill.; brother, Sam Barackman and wife Linda of Palm Springs, Calif.; three grandchildren, Eloise, Maggie and Beau Gunter of Brimfield, Ill.; aunt, Pat Barackman of Carlyle, Ill.; uncles, Gary Barackman and wife Pat of Fla. and Elvin Barackman of Keyesport, Ill.; nephew, Adam Barackman of Las Vegas, Nev.; niece, Sarah Holden of Missoula, Mont.; father- and mother-in-law, Howard and Jane Frick of Schulenburg; sister-in-law, Amy Frick of Washington, D.C., and her children Minnie and Iris Koppenheffer; along with numerous cousins and special friends Sunny and Richard Keelan of College Station.
Mark was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Alice Barackman; grandparents, Samuel and Frieda Lederbrand, and Joseph and Irene Barackman; brother, Michael Barackman; and uncle, Charles Barackman.
Visitation was held on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, from 10 a.m. to noon at Koenig-Belvill Funeral Home & Cremations in La Grange. Funeral services were held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in High Hill at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. Burial followed at the Old High Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Esophageal Cancer Action Network, P.O. Box 243, Stevenson, MD 21153; Hospice Brazos Valley, 1048 N. Jefferson, La Grange, TX 78945; or to Gardenia E. Janssen Animal Shelter, 240 Svoboda Lane, La Grange, TX 78945.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Koenig-Belvill Funeral Home & Cremations, 208 W. Pearl, La Grange. Family and friends can view and sign the guestbook online at www.lagrangefunerals.com.