Mark Samuel Weis lived his fifty-eight years on earth with a full heart, a bright smile, and an unrelenting spirit. When he was a child he pursued his love of music, nature, service, and athletics. During his time at Manhattan High school he played Varsity Basketball, sang in the school choir (Chamber and Pops choir) and earned his way to becoming an Eagle Scout. During his time as a scout he was selected to participate in the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico and Scout High-Adventure Camp in Canada, which are high honors in the Eagle Scout program. When he was just sixteen he went to live in Peru for a summer, where he became fluent in Spanish. After returning to the United States and graduating from Manhattan High School with honors he attended the University of Kansas, where he earned a double bachelors in Biology and English (again with honors) while making memories with his brothers in Kappa Sigma fraternity. He accomplished his lifelong dream of becoming a doctor, after attending medical school at Kansas as well, a double Jayhawk. During his life he used his creativity combined with his knowledge of medicine to undertake several entrepreneurship endeavors. In his later years he became an author, and accomplished the feat of having six different books published. But most importantly, he lived his life as a devout Christian, a true believer; one who would share his love and fear of God with anyone and everyone would listen. At just twenty-four years old he embarked on a Mission trip for Mercy Ships, where he helped treat and heal children with cleft palates in Jamaica; and witnessed to the people there in Christ name.
At thirty-five years old, he persevered through a medical condition that would have left most people in a state of defeat. While living in Bowling Green, Kentucky and working as a doctor; he was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer. A tragic fate for anyone, but even more devastating for a man beginning his career, who at the time had a five-year old son and a two-year old daughter. But he met his disease without fear, and agreed to undergo, what was at the time; an experimental procedure to remove his tumor and save his life. He went to Boston to be treated by Harvard University’s Head Neurosurgeon, Dr. Peter McLaren Black. He received that surgery, knowing that he only had a 10% chance of waking up from it. But, with God at his side, he had no fear. He felt he had to do whatever it took to survive; to be a father to his children. He survived that lobotomy, losing fifteen percent of his brain in the process, but retaining his life. His doctors called his recovery a “miracle.” He felt that every day was a gift after that, and he treated the next twenty-three years after that surgery with love and gratitude.
Surviving that surgery had a cost, it led to him having many seizures, pain and an overall health decline for the rest of his life; which, like everything else, he faced with a righteous level of bravery. The way he handled it, you would have thought his seizures were a mild inconvenience to him. Every problem in his life that would be absolutely traumatic for most people, he took in stride. Two years after receiving that surgery, in 2002 he undertook another mission trip, this time to Africa. Where he treated two different tribes in Tanzania and Kenya with medical issues while delivering the Word of God. He loved his life, he loved Jesus, and he loved his family with his whole heart. That love drove him to conquer every obstacle in his way.
In 2007 he began his own medical practice in Lexington, Kentucky. The success he cultivated there led to him being offered a job in 2009 at Fort Riley where he became the head of their “RESPECT-Mil” program which treated veterans diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. After proving his value in treating the nations’ soldiers he moved to Washington D.C., and began working at the prestigious Walter Reed Medical Center, where he was the lead primary care proponent for the U.S. Department of Defense suicide-prevention team (RESPECT-Mil). In 2012 he decided that he had accomplished everything he wanted to as a doctor, and began writing books, became published several times over, and pursued his own creative medical entrepreneurship endeavors. He wanted to help people with technology he thought would be the forefront of health for years to come, including hormone therapy, stem cells, and alternative medicine. He pursued these business interests in Phoenix, Arizona, a place he felt a special bond with and where he could be close to his beloved brother (Ted Weis), his nieces (Isabella and Julia Weis) and his daughter who he adored (Caroline Weis).
Although he left us far too soon and unexpectedly, his family will always hold on to the unconditional love he gave us. Mark was preceded in his passing, by the passing of his father, Dr. Jerry Samuel Weis just a month prior in August 2022. The month before Mark’s passing, he spent his time in Manhattan, Kansas, taking care of his grieving mother (Linda Weis) who was mourning the loss of her husband (Jerry Weis). Mark quite literally spent his whole life helping others and spreading love. It gives his family comfort knowing he is at peace with his Lord, Jesus Christ in Paradise.
Mark is survived by his two children: Wilson and Caroline; his mother Linda B. Weis; two siblings: Ted and Stephanie Grynkiewicz (Ross); and three nieces and one nephew: Isabella and Julia Weis, Joshua and Samantha Grynkiewicz.
A Celebration of Mark’s Life will be held at 10:30 A.M. Monday, November 28, 2022, at the First Lutheran Church, 930 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, with Reverend Stephen Haverlah officiating. Inurnment will be in Sunrise Cemetery next to his father.
Memorial contributions may be made to either Boy Scouts of America Konza District or Mercy Ships. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.