Mark Kuehnert
October 8, 1966 - March 10, 2024
John Mark Kuehnert II, beloved partner, son, brother, uncle, cousin and friend passed away suddenly on Sunday, March 10, 2024 in Atlanta, Ga. at the age of 57.
Mark was born in Columbus, Miss. on October 8, 1966 and lived his formative years in Birmingham, Ala. He grew up in a family of true love and divine connection led by his Lutheran minister father John Mark Sr. and nurtured by his mother Marlys (Traefald) Kuehnert. His family’s faithful focus was foundational to Mark’s strength of character, having been baptized in 1966 and confirmed in 1981, both performed by his father.
Mark was a 1985 valedictorian Graduate of Berry High School and received an academic scholarship to Vanderbilt University to earn both his BA in English in 1989 and MBA in Finance & Accounting in 1990. During his college years, Mark was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity and loved singing and performing as a member of The Original Cast musical theatre revue troupe.
Mark started his career with Ernst & Young in Nashville in 1990 and had stints in Dallas and Chicago, before returning years later to EY Atlanta as a managing director in the Forensics consulting practice for a combined 20 years of service. In his most recent years, Mark’s passion for people development shined through as an inaugural member and co-chair of EY Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Council for the US Forensics Practice as well as for the separate Atlanta office across-practice council. He was also an active leader locally and nationally in EY's Unity LGBT+ Network. He championed the belief that a culture of belonging is achieved when people can bring their true selves to work, allowing individuals, companies, and clients to thrive. Mark lived out his professional and personal life in a way that role modeled diversity, inclusion, and equity each and every day. He was a consummate mentor, advocate and champion for many. Mark’s legacy is his fun-loving, kind spirit and joyous generosity. As a child, his toys were your toys. As a young man, he learned the value of hard work, starting a very profitable lawn service at the age of 12 while balancing a church janitorial job and numerous school activities throughout high school. As he grew into a man, he blossomed further, finally understanding how being your true self leads to deep love and great rewards. Mark the caregiver. Mark the fixer. Mark the nurturer. Mark the mentor. His profound and wide-reaching impact will continue to live on.
Among his favorite things to do:
- Spending time with his partner in Rosemary Beach, Fla. where sunsets and cocktails on Boardwalk B was the pinnacle of every day.
- Being with family whenever and wherever. Mark would go out of his way to connect in multiple ways with family members, including daily calls with Mom and Dad. Family Lake Week was a tradition.
- Baking cookies – chocolate chip especially. He loved sharing them with holiday party guests.
- Planting tulips annually to witness the beautiful miracle unfold every spring.
- Recently, hiking in scenic locales became a shared activity with his partner that deepened their connection to each other, nature, and God.
Mark is survived by his partner of 20 years Kevin Foltz; parents John Mark Sr. and Marlys Kuehnert; siblings Laurie (Adam) Franklin, Joel (Holli) Kuehnert, Matt (Tara) Kuehnert, Justin (Ali) Kuehnert, Trent (Lauren) Kuehnert and Noah (Stacy) Drews; 14 nieces and nephews, numerous Godchildren, beloved cousins, extended family, friends and colleagues.
A Celebration of Life reception will follow service at 3 p.m. at Serena Pastifico restaurant in Colony Square at 1197 Peachtree Street NE
In remembrance of Mark’s life, the family asks that you plant tulips annually, especially purple ones. Any charitable donations may be made to Compassion International or Point Foundation LGBTQ Scholarship Fund.
PRELUDE
GATHERING
Standing
“Medley for Mark”
Played by: Jonathan StroudWelcome in the name of Jesus, the Savior of the world.
We are gathered to worship, to proclaim Christ crucified and risen, to remember before God our brother, Mark, to give thanks for his life, to commend him to our merciful redeemer, and to comfort one another in our grief.
THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM
When we were baptized in Christ Jesus, we were baptized into his death. We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
All who are baptized into Christ have put on Christ. In his baptism, Mark was clothed with Christ. In the day of Christ's coming, he shall be clothed with glory.
ACCLAMATION
Eternal God, maker of heaven and earth, who formed us from the dust of the earth, who by your breath gave us life, we glorify you. | We glorify you.
Jesus Christ, the resurrection, and the life, who suffered death for all humanity, who rose from the grave to open the way to eternal life, we praise you. | We praise you.
Holy Spirit, author and giver of life, the comforter of all who sorrow, our sure confidence and everlasting hope, we worship you. | We worship you.
To you, O blessed Trinity, be glory and honor, forever and ever. | Amen.
HYMN 422
GREETING
For All the Saints
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. | And also with you.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
O God of grace and glory, we remember before you today our brother, Mark. We thank you for giving him to us to know and to love as a companion in our pilgrimage on earth. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see that death has been swallowed up in the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that we may live in confidence and
hope until, by your call, we are gathered to our heavenly home in the company of all your saints; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.. | Amen.
Seated SCRIPTURE READINGS
PSALM 118:1, 5-9, 19-23, 28-29
Read by: Laurie Kuehnert Franklin
Read responsively.
O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!
Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.
With the LORD on my side I do not fear. What can mortals do to me?
The LORD is on my side to help me; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in mortals.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.
I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you.
O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
REMEMBRANCE
1 THESSALONIANS 4:13-18
Read by: Lola Kuehnert Lass
REMEMBRANCE
Joel Kuehnert
Matt Kuehnert
2 PETER 3:18
Read by: Rev. Dr. Phillip Kuehnert
REMEMBRANCE
Julie Stewart & Paije Sieber
REMEMBRANCE Kevin Foltz
Standing
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
THE HOLY GOSPEL
John 11:1-36
Seated HOMILY Pastor Mark H. Larson
Standing HYMN 629 Abide with Me
APOSTLES' CREED
God has made us his people through our Baptism into Christ. Living together in trust and hope, we confess our faith.
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Kneeling or Seated PRAYERS
Trusting in God’s steadfast love and grace for us, let us pray for the church, the world, and all in need.
Almighty God, in holy baptism you have knit your people together into one communion of saints in the body of Christ. Give to your whole church in heaven and on earth your light and your peace. God of mercy, | hear our prayer.
God, we ask for the gifts of courage and faith as we mourn. Send your Holy Spirit to offer us the sure and certain hope that we live in your loving care. Help us to cast all our sorrow on you that we may have strength for the days, weeks, months, and years ahead. God of mercy, | hear our prayer.
God, for those of us who are still in our pilgrimage, and who walk as yet by faith, your love and care so that where this world groans in grief and pain, your Holy Spirit may lead us to bear witness to your light and life. God of mercy, | hear our prayer.
God, help us, in the midst of things that are impossible, to believe and trust in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection to life everlasting. When it’s hard to believe, give us the gift of others who will believe for us. Grant our congregation the wisdom, love, and tenderness as we care for Kevin, Mark’s family and friends, and all who knew and loved Mark. God of mercy, | hear our prayer.
God of all grace, we give you thanks because by his death our Savior Jesus Christ destroyed the power of death and by his resurrection opened the kingdom of heaven. Make us certain that because Jesus lives, we shall live also, and that neither death nor life, nor things present nor things to come, will be able to separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Seated
SPECIAL MUSIC: “Friends Are Friends Forever”
Played by: Matt Kuehnert, Ellie Kuehnert, Charlotte Kuehnert, Leigh Durrough, & Heather Lackey
Standing
GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you. | And also with you. Lift up your hearts! | We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. | It is right to give our thanks and praise.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ, who rose from the dead, and in whom our hope of resurrection dawns. The sting of death has been removed by the glorious promise of his risen life. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
You are indeed holy, almighty and merciful God. You are most holy, and great is the majesty of your glory. You so loved the world that you gave your only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.
We give you thanks for his coming into the world to fulfill for us your holy will and to accomplish all things for our salvation. In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.
For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Remembering, therefore, his salutary command, his life-giving passion and death, his glorious resurrection and ascension, and the promise of his coming again, we give thanks to you, O Lord God Almighty, not as we ought but as we are able; we ask you mercifully to accept our praise and thanksgiving and with your Word and Holy Spirit to bless us, your servants, and these your own gifts of bread and wine, so that we and all who share in the body and blood of Christ may be filled with heavenly blessing and grace, and, receiving the forgiveness of sin, may be formed to live as your holy people and be given our inheritance with all your saints.
To you, O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory in your holy church, now and forever. | Amen.
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray…
LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
INVITATION TO COMMUNION
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Seated
HYMNS DURING COMMUNION
HYMN 858
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
HYMN 705 God of Grace, God of Glory
Standing POST COMMUNION PRAYER
The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. | Amen
Let us pray. | We give you thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us through the healing power of this gift of life. In your mercy, strengthen us through this gift, in faith toward you and in fervent love toward one another; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
COMMENDATION
Let us commend Mark into the mercy of God, our maker and redeemer.
Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant, Mark. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive him into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light.| Amen.
BENEDICTION
May the Lord Mighty God
Bless and keep you forever
Grant you peace, perfect peace
Courage in every endeavor
Lift up your eyes and see his face
Feel his grace surround you
May the Lord Mighty God
Bless and keep you forever.
HYMN 660
Lift High the Cross
DISMISSAL
Let us go forth knowing God goes with us. | In the name of Christ. Amen.
Liturgy from Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2013 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #21979.
Officiants: Pastors Mark H. Larson, Jonathan Trapp, Jennifer Roberts
Organist: Sarah Hawbecker
Crucifers: Justin Kuehnert & Trent Kuehnert
Trombone: Trae Stroud