On Thursday afternoon, Nov. 28, 2013, Mark Ashley Stevens died surrounded by his loving family in his St. Paul Park home after battling a sudden and brief illness. Funeral services will be at All Saints Lutheran Church in Cottage Grove.

Mark was born at Naeve Hospital in Albert Lea on Aug. 19, 1967, to parents Orville and Barbara (Burdine) Stevens. Mark was the second of three children. He attended school in Albert Lea until junior high when he moved to Brownsdale. Mark later graduated from Hayfield High School in 1985.

Right after high school Mark went to work for Streater in Albert Lea, until he moved to Alexandria to attend and graduate from Alexandria Technical School in the law enforcement program. He then went to work for McCoy Services in St. Paul for approximately six years. In 1997, Mark started his career with the United States Postal Service as a mail handler until his death. Mark made and had a great number of friends there which he enjoyed.

On Sept. 25, 1993, Mark married Sherri Wadding at Grace Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. Two children, Codey Wadding and Michael Stevens, made his family complete. Mark was proud of the men his children had become.

Mark wanted it known that he loved fishing and target shooting almost as much as his wife and family. Mark also enjoyed joking and making his family and friends laugh. Mark’s other interests included woodworking, camping and watching the Vikings and Twins play even when they struggled.

Mark and his family are grateful for the care he received from the entire sixth floor staff at Regions Hospital and from his Health Partners Hospice nurse, Jamie. Mark also expressed his thanks and appreciation for the 24-hour care he received from his family and all of the visits and calls from friends and family.

Mark is survived by his wife of 20 years, Sherri, and children Codey and Michael, all of St Paul Park; father, Orville Stevens, of Albert Lea; mother, Barbara Stevens, of Rochester; brothers Tim of Minneapolis and Jeff (Connie) Stevens of Mankato; mother-in-law, Connie Wadding; brothers-in-law Mitch (Gina) Wadding of Albert Lea, Shannon (Deb Blood) Wadding of St. Paul and Steven (Jen Mudra) Wadding of Albert Lea; and sister-in-law, Sandra (Tim) Lieverouw, of Albert Lea. Mark is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Mark was preceded in death by his grandparents, Faye and Florence Stevens, Ed and Emma Burdine; and father-in-law, Leland Wadding. Mark has asked that people write something small or a memory about him.

There will be a gathering from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Kok Funeral Home, 201 Portland Ave., St. Paul Park, and from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at the church. The memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at All Saints Lutheran Church, 8100 Belden Blvd., Cottage Grove. Inurnment will be Saturday at Greenwood Cemetery.

Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers.