Rev. Dr. Mark A. Frickey

Rev. Dr. Mark A. Frickey

Oct. 22, 1968 - June 3, 2013

COPAKE, New York -- Mark Albert Frickey, 44, of Copake, New York, passed away on Monday, June 3, 2013, at NYU Medical Center in New York City.

A memorial service is Friday, July 12, 2013, at 2 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church in Oberlin, Kansas.

Born on Oct. 22, 1968, in Lawrence, Kansas, Mark was the son of Charles L. Frickey and Linda S. (Nemeth) Starkey.

Mark graduated from Decatur Community High School in Oberlin, Kansas in 1987. After graduating, Mark spent a year in Denmark as an exchange student. In 1993, he graduated from The University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas and was selected for membership in Phi Beta Kappa. Mark was a counselor for several years during college at Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp, Fort Collins, Colorado, and served as youth director at St. John's Lutheran Church in Salina, Kansas, from 1993-1996. Realizing his call into ministry, Mark enrolled at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He graduated and was ordained as a Lutheran minister at Faith Lutheran Church in Oberlin, Kansas, in August of 2000. Having spent his internship year at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Valatie, New York, Mark elected to move east and accepted a full-time call at the Lutheran Parish of Southern Columbia County in September of 2001. Mark married Tonya Warner on Aug. 10, 2003, and three years later they adopted three beautiful children.

While ministering to four churches and being a fantastic father to his children, Mark enrolled at Fordham University. Six long years of study paid off on May 18, 2013, when Mark earned his Doctorate of Ministry. His illness prevented him from walking the stage to receive his diploma, but family and friends were able to celebrate with Mark in his hospital room as he received his diploma two weeks later on Saturday, June 1, 2013.

Mark was a loving and devoted father to his three children: Jeffrey, Samantha, and Jonathan. He is also survived by his wife, Tonya Frickey, of Copake; his father, Charles L. Frickey (Diane) of Oberlin, Kansas; his mother, Linda S. Starkey (James) of Wichita, Kansas; his brother, Edwin Frickey of Wichita, Kansas; his step-siblings: Steve (Lynne) Paris, Susan (Chad) Stanley, and Jamie (Sharon) Paris, all of Colorado; his brother-in-law, Michael (Laura) Warner of Acra, New York; his brother-in-law, Gary (Marianne) Warner of Round Top, New York; nieces and nephews: Kayla, Ryan, Noah, Sophie, Gavin, and Drew; many aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and colleagues.

A memorial service was Friday, June 14, 2013, at 12 noon, at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Valatie, New York, with Pastor James Slater officiating. On July 12, 2013, a memorial service will be at Faith Lutheran Church in Oberlin, Kansas.

The family would like to thank the NYU Transplant team for their excellent care of Mark during his stay at NYU Medical Center. Memorial Donations may be made in Mark's memory to NYU Transplant Center, NYU Medical Center, 403 East 34th Street, New York, NY 10016 or to a scholarship fund established for his children at Key Bank, C/O Nancy Rutter, PO Box 146, Copake, NY 12516.

Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin is in charge of arrangements. Visit http://www.paulsfh.com/ to leave condolences.