Mark James Francis McGivern – loving father, friend, brother, and son – passed away June 6, 2024, in Wichita, Kansas. Mark was born to John and Margie McGivern in Topeka, Kansas, on February 27, 1962, and lived in Topeka most of his life.
The fourth of eleven children, Mark loved his siblings unconditionally, showing them throughout his life, kindness, generosity, loyalty and humor.
Mark attended Most Pure Heart of Mary Grade School and graduated from Hayden High School in 1980. His athletic prowess was evident from his earliest years. He played football and wrestled in the Catholic Youth Organization league while at MPH and later in high school. Mark’s skills on the football field at Hayden ultimately earned him a full scholarship to play outside linebacker for Pittsburg State University.
Mark was voted the Gorillas’ co-captain his senior year and helped lead the team to the NAIA national championship game in 1982. He also was an excellent recruiter: a pipeline of younger and equally talented McGivern brothers followed him to Pittsburg State and had their own standout careers.
He excelled in the classroom. Mark was an Academic All-American and graduated with a degree in Construction Science in 1985. Following graduation, Mark and his best friends – Rob Jarvis, Mike Holman and Brent Smothermon – established the PSU Construction Science Alumni Scholarship, which has provided more than a million dollars to students through the intervening years. Mark returned to Topeka after college, worked in his family’s business, and was then accepted into Washburn Law School. He passed the Kansas Bar exam in 1988.
Mark married Mary Eileen Cain on May 25, 1985, in Topeka. The couple moved to Wichita in 1988 when Mark accepted an associate position in Eby Construction’s legal department. He eventually was promoted to associate general counsel. The couple was soon blessed with two remarkable daughters, Ellen in 1991 and Maura in 1993, and the Wichita years proved among the happiest of their lives.
In 1995, the family moved back to Topeka after Mark returned to his family business. A son, Joseph Liam, was born in 1998; Mark solemnly referred to Joe as “The Chosen One.” Mark later went to work for the Kansas Department of Administration, serving as interim secretary and director of facilities and procurement, before finally returning to the law.
Mark and Eileen shared 33 years of marriage. A deep and abiding faith was at the center of his life. He was a devoted and resourceful son-in-law to Dan and Theresa Cain and a rock-solid brother-in-law. Mark had a gift for connecting with children and understood the joy and wonder behind their eyes. He would often hold the collected nieces and nephews spellbound with terrifying and astonishing tales of the mythical Jocko the Giant. He found humor in everything and was a loyal and generous friend.
Mark loved traveling with Maura in his role as volleyball dad and once stormed the court after a 14-year-old championship match. He watched every Chiefs game religiously with Joe and always cheered on the Jayhawks with Ellen. Family vacations were a much-anticipated event, but Mark left the driving to Eileen. He didn’t like big cities and warned one wrong turn could lead to impending doom!
Among his many achievements, Mark had accomplished five-and-a-half years of sobriety at the time of his death. His family could not have been prouder.
Mark is survived by his children, Ellen Elizabeth McGivern, Seattle, WA; Maura Ann Kirby (Matthew), London, England; Joseph Liam McGivern, Fairway, KS; his former wife and constant friend, Eileen Cain, Fairway, KS; his father, John F. McGivern, Topeka; brothers, John, Tim, Greg, BJ, and Ryan McGivern; sisters Lisa Belden and Lynn and Amy McGivern; numerous nephews and nieces; friend Jackie Marr, and many other dear friends. Thank you to his AA community who supported and cheered him on through his recovery. He was preceded in death by his mother, Margie Ann McGivern; his adored big sisters, Toni Schuckman and Terri Gallagher; and his beloved niece, Mia Miyamoto.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Monday, June 10, 2024, at Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 3601 W. 17th Street, Topeka, KS and will be livestreamed on Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home Facebook page. Visitation and rosary will precede the Mass, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Topeka.
Memorial contributions may be made to the PSU Construction Science Alumni Scholarship Fund, care of the PSU Foundation, 1701 South Broadway Street, Pittsburg, KS 66762 or to Greater Kansas American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Chapter, https://supporting.afsp.org/campaign/Mark-McGivern-memorial-fund, or sent in care of Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Road, Topeka KS 66614.
Online condolences may be sent to www.kevinbrennanfamily.com.
Posted online on June 08, 2024
Published in Topeka Capital Journal
