Mark S. Rampey Obituary (1948

Mark Stephen Rampey, 73, of Bloomington, Illinois, passed away on November 10, 2021. Mark was born in Long Beach, California, on March 2, 1948, to parents Maxine and Olin Rampey. He was raised by his mother and step-father, Dean Kimzey, whom he lovingly knew as Dad. Mark spent his childhood through early adulthood in New Cuyama, California, before moving to Kansas to attend Ottawa University. There, he met his wife of 48 years, Jan (Ekstrand) Rampey. After completing his Masters Degree at SIU Carbondale, Mark and Jan planted their roots in Central Illinois, where they raised their three boys. For 12 years, he was employed as a biology teacher at Tri-Valley High School in Downs, Illinois. He worked with colleagues and students who became lifelong friends. Mark finished out his working years at State Farm. He retired in 2010. Mark knew he was born to be an educator and a coach. He played several sports growing up, and he loved to golf. He helped coach baseball during his time in Carbondale and then at Tri Valley. When his boys were old enough to begin playing, he coached their teams. All three boys settled on soccer as their sport; he and Jan were always at their games. By the time Tyler graduated from college, they calculated they had spent 24 years watching the boys play. Mark didn't limit himself to just his sons' teams. He also coached for soccer clubs in town and served on the board of directors before spending the last 10 years as Assistant Coach at Bloomington High School. He found coaching impossible to give up, and he impacted so many lives with his ability to develop relationships that went above and beyond sports. Mark was a voracious reader with an intrinsic love of learning. Additional hobbies included music, hiking, riding his bicycle, and spending time with his loving family and cherished friends. Mark loved the Lord and was a member of Eastview Christian Church in Bloomington. Mark is survived by his wife, Jan; daughter-in-law, Tiffany Rampey of Evanston; his sons, Chad (Sarah) Rampey of Bloomington and Tyler (Laura) Rampey of Chicago; his grandchildren, Paige and August (Michael) Rampey, and Graham (Chad) Rampey; father, Dean (Jerry) Kimzey; brother, Carl (Sandee) Kimzey; sisters, Karen Paiva and Marsha (Jeff) Hansen; many in-laws, numerous nieces and nephews, and countless friends. He is predeceased by his mother, Maxine (Dean) Kimzey; father, Olin Rampey; in-laws, Jim and Elaine Ekstrand; and beloved oldest son, Michael (Tiffany) Rampey. Well-respected and well-loved, Mark leaves behind a gaping hole in his community. His was a life well lived. Mark's visitation is scheduled for Friday, November 19th, from 4:00 to 8:00 PM, at Calvert and Metzler Memorial Home, 1115 E. Washington St., Bloomington. The funeral service will be Saturday, November 20th, at 11:00 AM at E-Free Church, 2910 E. Lincoln Street, Bloomington. Burial will be at Funks Grove Cemetery, 7054 E. 535 North Road, McLean, Illinois. In Mark's honor, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association or a check can be sent to BHS Athletics, attn. Tony Bauman, 1202 E Locust St. Bloomington IL 61701. Funds will be designated toward a memorial for Mark.