Mr. Mark Friend

Mark S. Friend passed away January 23, 2022 at St. Luke’s Hospice House in Kansas City surrounded by his family and as the Chiefs won a divisional game in spectacular fashion.

Mark was born in 1954 in Dallas, Texas and began his lifelong vocation of baking in seventh grade at a doughnut shop across the back alley from his home. Upon graduating from Bishop Lynch High School in 1973, he spent a summer at the Monastery of the Infant Jesus as a groundskeeper that started an enduring devotion to the Sisters there.

Mark moved to Kansas City in 1979 where he later started a family, graduated from UMKC, raised his children, and established his bread business, Farm to Market Bread Company—providing fresh bread to Kansas Citians for nearly 30 years.

Mark was a pioneer in Artisan Baking and brought the Artisan Bread movement to Kansas City along with his business partner Fred Spompinato. A founding member of the Bread Bakers Guild, he was an industry leader on natural sourdough starters and prided himself on using simple, natural ingredients.

Mark’s life was extended 21 years through the expertise and care of physicians and staff at St. Luke’s Hospital and KU Cancer Center, with a successful bone marrow transplant to cure leukemia.

Later in life, much joy and companionship was brought to Mark when he married Genny, a former childhood classmate. As a loving husband, doting father and grandfather, dear friend and mentor, Mark will be remembered for his generosity, kindness and love to many.

He is survived by: his wife, Genevieve Landregan of 10 years; his two children, John and his partner Sara Wist of Kansas City and Molly and her husband Andrew Johnson of Chicago; his brothers and sisters John (Pat), his twin Mary, Chris (Cindi) Friend, Laura (Peter) Medeiros and sister-in-law Debra; his adored grandsons, Henry and George Johnson. He is also survived by his former spouse, Joan Gould Friend; step children, Joe (Cassie), Angie, and David Drymala; step grandchildren; many beloved nieces and nephews. Mark is preceded in death by his parents Charlotte (Studzinski) and Robert G. Friend, his big brother Mike, and his niece Amy Keller.

Services will be held Saturday, February 5, at St. James Catholic Church 3909 Harrison St, Kansas City, MO with a Rosary and Visitation at 10 a.m. and Funeral Mass at 11 a.m.  Private Disposition. Service conducted by Watkins Heritage Chapel. Condolences may be shared on our website.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Monastery of the Infant Jesus, 1501 Lotus Lane, Lufkin TX 75904.

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