On July 2, 1961, Mark Anthony Altman was born in Hays, Kansas to Phillip Altman and Roselyn (Dome) Altman. The family moved to Logan, Kansas in 1966, where he graduated from Logan High School in 1979. His stellar high school career included playing on the varsity football, baseball, track and basketball teams. After graduation, he attended Colby Community College on a basketball scholarship and continued on to Fort Hays State where he majored in accounting and received a teaching certificate. He began a life-long career in education, influencing thousands of students. He served as coach and educator for a number of Kansas school districts including Stockton, Lebo, and Rossville before starting his administrative career as principal of Wabaunsee High School, principal at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School in Shawnee, KS, and as assistant principal and athletic director at Raytown High School (MO). He has served at Tonganoxie Middle School from 2006 until his passing, first as assistant principal and as principal since 2015.
Mark was the most honorable and devoted man. What he meant to his family and his community is impossible to put into words.
Mark was a man of loyalty and integrity in all that he did. His actions were intentional and thoughtful, and he knew how to make each moment meaningful through small but heartfelt gestures. It was never too late, and he was never too tired or too busy for those he loved. He served others with an open heart, an eager willingness and a Christ-like love that blessed everyone around him. He was the living example of the phrase “the love you give away is the only love you keep.”
Family was at the heart of his life. He grew up with his younger brother Stephen, sister Carolyn, and his brother John, who were all athletes in various sports. His brother Steve remembers him as being a heck of a basketball player, but as Mark would agree, he was a bit slow and did not excel at jumping, although he was incredibly dedicated to improving his game. He spent hundreds of hours practicing on the court by their house, even shoveling snow in the winter so he could continue to shoot. The pair enjoyed family meals, Chiefs games, and the occasional golf game which was another excuse for laughter and friendly teasing. But, mostly it was (as his daughter Emily puts it) the “loving abuse” between two brothers, calling each other names such as “old geezer” and “cheese wiz” or playing the occasional prank on one another that made them not just good brothers but best of friends.
Carolyn grew up admiring her oldest brother and that admiration never waned. He was an inspiration to her through the examples he set as an athlete when she was young and as an educator as she followed in his footsteps later in life. She could always count on him for support, guidance, and quirky humor. She will remember and love him as a man who was always doing for others and never put himself first.
Mark was a father that displayed unconditional love to his three daughters; Emily, Mary, and Avery as well as to his only granddaughter, Rosalie Helen. He was more than just their father; he was their home, their whole heart, and an irreplaceable man. Being loved by him meant having a towel warmed up while in the bath, walking outside on a snowy morning to find car windows scraped, and receiving random text messages saying “thinking about you” that always arrived just when they were needed most. His daughters will be reminded of him most through music, playing the guitar in front of the fireplace, taking car rides with the windows down, singing aloud, and enjoying many concerts. They will continue to hear his voice singing every word to every Billy Joel song, and they will continue to make him proud by serving others and holding kindness and family at the center of their world.
In December 2016, Mark found himself crawling underneath the dinner table to retrieve the engagement ring Jessee excitedly tossed upon seeing. They married on August 19, 2017. He has since been a constant loving, devoted husband and best friend. Not a question could be asked to the other without the other grinning, “That’s exactly what I was thinking!” He took great pleasure in making her laugh at his antics, like playing The Gin Blossoms’ song “Cheatin’” on his guitar over and over, belting out the lyrics as loudly as he could. He also loved taking care of absolutely everything, even priding himself on being her perfect barista every morning although he didn’t like coffee himself. He was just as devoted to his stepchildren, Grace and Quinn. He was always available, attending all day swim meets in humid chorine filled stands, track meets, football games, and baseball tournaments in the scorching heat or freezing cold without ever giving the slightest grumble.
In addition to his love of music, Mark most enjoyed building things with his own hands, recently completing an extensive finish of the basement of his and Jessee’s home. He excitedly prepared large meals for his family and was a talented cook, carrying on the tradition of family favorites, including his legendary cinnamon rolls, macaroni and cheese, green been dumpling soup, and mashed potatoes.
Mark passed away on January 22, 2021, surrounded by his family after a brief hospitalization at Providence Medical Center following a medical emergency at school.
He is preceded by his mother and brother John, and will be missed by wife Jessee (Kluthe) Altman (Kansas City, KS); his father Phillip Altman and stepmother Saundra (Logan, KS); his daughters Emily Altman (Salt Lake City, UT), Mary Altman and his granddaughter Rosalie (Kansas City, KS), and Avery Altman (Kansas City, KS); his stepchildren Grace and Quinn; his brother Stephen Altman, sister-in-law Mary, and nephew, Connor (Olathe, KS); his sister Carolyn Altman and sister-in-law Faith (Mary Ester, FL); his nephew Marcus Altman (Littleton, CO) and nieces Macee Altman (Hays, KS) and Makenzie Henman and her husband Isaac; in addition to aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and many thousands of students and staff whose lives he impacted.
His warmth, comforting spirit and humor will be missed and remembered, always and forever.
Visitation will be from 5-7:00 PM Wednesday, January 27, with a Rosary prayed at 7:00 PM at the Porter Funeral Home, 1835 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, KS. Funeral Mass will be 10:30 AM Thursday, January 28, at the Cathedral of St. Peter, 416 N. 14th St. Kansas City, KS 66102. Due to Covid-19, seating is only available for 90 people. The service will be live streamed on the churches website.
Donations can be made to fund a 529 plan college savings plan for Avery Altman, who is a freshman at Pittsburg State. Checks should be made payable to "Learning Quest" and mailed to Mark's brother Steve Altman 20760 W. 108th Street Olathe, KS 66061.
Information about how to donate to a scholarship in Mark's name for a Tonganoxie School District graduate will be announced in the near future.