Mark Dean Adkins

Mark Dean Adkins, 60, of Ames, Iowa. Mark died on Thursday, June, 1, 2017 at the Mercy Medical Center, Des Moines, Iowa.Mark Dean Adkins, oldest of five children born to Dean Elton Adkins and Janice Fern Lee Adkins, was born October 1, 1956 in Jefferson, Iowa, and died June 1, 2017 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. Mark was 60 years and 8 months old. Funeral services were held Monday June 5, 2017 at the First Baptist Church in Jefferson Iowa. Officiating was the Pastor Bob McKnight from the Scranton Church of Christ, Scranton, Iowa. Casket Bearers were James Carstens, David Kipp, Lane Schradle, Bill Ebert, Rick Stevens and Kurt Elliott. Honorary Casket Bearers were Dean Petty, Tim Welch, Mike Wood, Clifford Carney, and Joel Thomas. Music was provided by Pianist, Levi Dawson and Soloist, Holly Russell, with selections of Wind Beneath My Wings &The Old Rugged Cross. Interment was in the Franklin Township Cemetery, Cooper, Iowa. Mark grew up on his family's farm and loved that life. He graduated YJB, (Yale, Jamaica, Bagley) in 1975. While in school, Mark was active in 4-H at the local and state levels. He participated in football, track, and music. He always had many friends and that wonderful trait continued throughout his life. Mark was honored as president of the student council. Mark attended DMACC and then transferred to Iowa State University in Ames where he received his BS degree in Leisure Studies. He spent most of his years self-employed in the siding, mortgages and tax credit businesses. His love of 4-H as a young man led to many hours of volunteering for the program. He enjoyed playing softball and golf, coached his children's basketball and soccer teams. Mark was an avid supporter of Iowa State Athletics. He was preceded in death by his grandparents Thelma and Orville Adkins and Hugh and Bernice Lee; brother Murray Adkins; father Dean Adkins and nephew Devin Adkins. Mark will be always in the hearts of his daughter Abbey Adkins (friend Oakley Swiecichowski) of Pulaski, Wisconsin and son Austin Adkins (friend Rachel Neibergall) of Ames, Iowa; Anita Adkins of Ames; mother Janice Adkins of Jefferson, Iowa sisters Joni Adkins of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Valerie Adkins of Bagley, Iowa; brother Cris Adkins (wife Jacquie) of Bagley, Iowa; brother-in-law Brian Arends (wife Diane) of Omaha, Nebraska; nieces and nephews Craig Adkins; Melanie Adkins Johnston (husband Jeremy); Grant Adkins; Alyssa Johnson (husband Dan); Nate Arends ( wife Meredith); uncle Vern Adkins (wife Ann) of Bagley, Iowa; loving cousins; other relatives and many, many friends(just ask his Table Rock buddies). Memorials in his name may be mailed to his son Austin Adkins, 2110 Burnett, Ames, Iowa 50010 for later designation.