Mark A. Pestka
Mark A. Pestka, 58, of Scheller, passed away at 8:22 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014 at the Marshall Browning Hospital in Du Quoin.
Mark had been a coal miner. He had worked at many mines including Springfield Coal Company Crown #3 in Farmersville, Ill. and Knight Hawk Coal Prairie Eagle Mine. He was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Tamaroa. He was a member of UMW of A. Mark was an avid outdoorsman, a master gardener and a St. Louis Cardinals fan. All the grandkids referred to him as 'Captain Mark.'
He was born Jan. 22, 1955 at St. Louis, Mo., the son of Leo and Rose Marie (Skorcz) Pestka Sr.
He married Laura Marcquenski on Jan. 1, 1997 at Corpus Christi, Tex. and she survives.
He is survived by his wife of Scheller, his parents - Leo and Rose Marie Pestka Sr. of Scheller, six children -Nicholas Pestka and wife Casey of Pinckneyville, Daniel Pestka and wife Brooke of Carterville, Ill., Andrew Pestka and wife Kimberly of Mt. Airy, Md., Grant Pestka of Scheller, Ill., Emily Drone of Grand Rapids, Mich. and Sarah Farmer and husband Butch of Carbondale, Ill., seven siblings - Leo J. Pestka Jr. of Scheller, Diana Majewski and husband Jim of Scheller, Kevin Pestka and wife Lydia of Waverly, Tenn., Kathy Rulevish and husband Ed of Scheller, David Pestka and wife Cathy of Tamaroa, Donnie Pestka and wife Michelle of Scheller and Christa Pestka-Wong and husband Kirk of Marion, Ill., six grandchildren - Keaton Pestka, Drew Pestka, Lydianne Pestka, Anna Marie Pestka, Harmonyanne Pestka and Payton Kay Pestka.
He was preceded in death by one brother - Dean Pestka.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Tamaroa with Fr. Oliver Nwachukwu officiating.
Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Searby Funeral Home in Tamaroa.
Burial will be in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery at Tamaroa.
Friends may make memorials to the College Education Fund for his son and grandchildren and will be accepted at the funeral home.
For additional information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.searbyfuneralhomes.com.