Mark Lyons

“You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have”. Mark Lyons was an otherwise healthy and active 52 year old husband, father and bank executive when he suddenly experienced stroke-like symptoms the week of Thanksgiving 2015. Mark was admitted to a hospital where additional testing determined that he had not in fact suffered a stroke, but had actually experienced a seizure caused by a large mass growing on the left side of his brain. Mark’s symptoms progressed rapidly and his working diagnosis continued to worsen from a Stage II Astrocytoma to Glioblastoma Multiforme. He endured excruciating pain from both the tumor itself as well as the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation; but throughout the course of his illness, Mark never once complained. Mark’s battle with cancer ended shortly after Easter 2016. And while cancer took his life, we as Mark’s family honor and miss him the most for who he was apart from his disease during the rest of his 52 short years. Mark grew up with his four brothers and a large extended family in Dysart, IA, a rural community south of Waterloo, IA. He met his wife Janeal at a mutual friend’s wedding and they married not long after in 1985. The two attended Simpson College and welcomed twins Austin and Kassidy in 1987. Mark was a dedicated family man, sacrificing his own needs and interests for that which was best for his family. He was funny, loving, and loyal; able to roughhouse, joke around and unabashedly embarrass his children at one moment, but equally able to offer words of wisdom or a comforting bear hug the next. Mark was a classic rock and jazz aficionado. He also enjoyed exercising and shelling on the beaches of Florida. Most of all, he loved time with his people. Mark enjoyed a successful career in banking, and rose to the many challenges put before him. He was committed to his executive position with First American Bank in Des Moines, IA and Naples, FL. Mark Lyons was, a continues to be, a strong force in the lives of all he influenced.