Obituary of Mark David Knight

                         MARK KNIGHT

Mark David Knight, age 63, of Lakewood, Colorado, peacefully passed into eternal life on July 10, 2022. He was born September 1958 at Poudre Valley Hospital in Ft. Collins, Colorado, to Rosanne Knight and Jack C. Knight. Mark’s early years were spent in Ft. Collins where he attended Kindergarten and enjoyed the loving presence of his grandparents, Helen & W.W. “Bill” Dingler and Marion & Perry Knight, aunts, uncles and many cousins who all lived in the Ft. Collins area. His love of reading was instilled in him during those early years in Ft. Collins and at the time of his death his library contained many volumes as well as his daily journals, as he was also a very good writer. 

In 1963, he moved with his parents out of state and a few years later moved back to Colorado where the family lived in Colorado Springs; Mark had fond memories of some very good friends during elementary school in the Springs. The family then moved to Wisconsin where his Dad enrolled in the Episcopal Seminary which was on over 440 wooded acres with a private lake. Mark looked back on his Wisconsin days as a time of fun in the woods with lots of good friends. The excellent teachers he had during the three years in Wisconsin furthered his love for learning and reading. After the seminary days, the family returned to Colorado and settled in the Columbine area of Littleton with Mark’s little sister, Mary, and baby brother, Steve. Mark played high school football and was in the first graduating class from the new Columbine High School. His high school football teammates became life-long friends and they enjoyed getting together with Mark for long lunches in their retirement.

Mark was a Merit Scholar and chose to attend The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore where he graduated four years later. Returning to Colorado, he attended the School of Law at Colorado University and then received a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the School of Architecture at Colorado University at Denver. His last career position was in the Douglas County Planning Department.  

He was married to Karen Dunajcik in 1987 and they stayed together for nearly 30 years. During that time, they enjoyed numerous trips to northern New Mexico and Mark’s two Rottweilers. Karen and Mark were married for 14 years before their only child, Jack Joseph, was born. Mark became the stay-at-home parent after Jack entered elementary school and he passed along his love of reading to his son. Mark was very proud of Jack’s academic achievements and was looking forward to Jack’s graduation from the University of Vermont in 2023. Karen remained a dear friend and helpmate, and she was by his side during his months of illness while Mark was waiting assessment for an organ transplant.

Mark is survived by Karen Knight of Lakewood, his son Jack J. Knight of Lakewood and Burlington, Vermont, his mother, Rosanne Knight (Loveland), brother Stephen Knight (Denver), sister, Mary McCulley (Denver) and her sons Michael and David McCulley and their families, his Aunts; Diana Spinney and Eileen Hagemeister, favorite Uncle; Bill Dingler and wife Nettie, and numerous cousins and their families.  He was predeceased by his father, The Reverend Jack C. Knight and his grandparents.

The family invites you to join us for a Celebration of Life at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.

A Celebration of Life

Mark D. Knight

Saturday, August 20, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.

Holy Cross Lutheran Church

4500 Wadsworth Blvd. 

Wheat Ridge, Colorado 80033

 

In lieu of flowers,

Mark requested donations be made to the Volunteers of America

 

“However imperfectly, I loved God, my family, the wonderful friends that I was graced to know, my rude dogs, and the Denver Broncos.”

 

“I leave behind my frustrations, disappointments, addictions, my sin and guilt. I go to immeasurable goodness and mercy of Christ Jesus.”

Mark D. Knight, 2022

dsworth Boulevard