For those planning to attend Mark's funeral:

"Mark Cleary Perez, I, 42, Topeka, died Sunday, Nov. 2, 2003, at a local hospital. Mark was born July 2, 1961, in Coffeyville, the son of Richard M. and Victoria M. Rodriguez Perez. He was a member of Coffeyville Boys Club, played and coached little league baseball, wrestled and graduated from Coffeyville High School in 1979. Upon his graduation, he moved to Topeka, where he was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. He was a machinist at Allis Chalmers. After they closed, he worked for several other companies. Upon his death, he was a custodian for the Kaw Area VoTech USD No. 501. He volunteered on the entertainment committee for Fiesta Mexicana, he was a coach for Topeka Tornado Wrestling Club and played in several Topeka softball leagues. He married Rita M. Ortiz on May 1, 1981, in Topeka. She survives, of the home. Other survivors include his parents, Richard and Victoria Perez; a son, Mark Cleary Perez II; daughters, Angelina Maria Perez and Melissa Ann Perez; brothers, Richard J. Perez, Larry J. Perez, Patrick F. Perez and Philip M. Perez; and a sister, Teresa M. Perez Scheck, all of Topeka. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery. Mr. Perez will lie in state after 4 p.m. Wednesday at the church with a Legion of Mary at 6 p.m., Parish Wake Service at 6:30 p.m. and a Scriptural Rosary at 7 p.m. The family suggests contributions to Mark Cleary Perez I Memorial Fund in care of Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 W. 6th Ave., Topeka, 66603.
Published in the Topeka Capital-Journal on 11/4/2003."

For those that have made a donation on behalf of the Fund created by the Tornado Club, we will forward those donations to his Fund with Brennan-Mathena.

You know, what's truely amazing about our sport is that we really are a family. I've never been a part of something so rewarding. I continually count my "lucky stars" of all the lives I been able to touch and more importantly, those that have been able to touch mine. I feel fortunate that I got a chance to meet Mark and the rest of the Perez family.