Mark Alan Hancock, 59

Mark Alan Hancock, 59, of Stryker, Ohio passed away on Friday, June 7th, 2019 at 8:30 a.m. surrounded by his family, after a courageous 3 year battle with cancer.

Mark was born March 5th, 1960, at Montpelier Hospital in Montpelier Ohio, to Richard and Paula (Shaffer) Hancock. Mark is survived by his mother, Paula, one brother, Mike Hancock and one sister, Michelle (Fred) Russell as well as several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. Mark was preceded in death by his father, Richard Hancock, Paternal Grandparents, Delbert and Viola Hancock as well as his Maternal Grandparents, Maurice and Wanda Reynolds and Gerald Shaffer.

Mark graduated from Stryker High School in 1978. After graduating high school, he worked for his father, Richard Hancock, in construction until 1986.He then worked at Sauder Woodworking in Archbold, Ohio from 1986 to 1992. Mark then moved to Tennessee, met Kimberly L (Jennings) Hancock on June 19, 1992 and they were joined in holy matrimony at Christ Church in Gordonsville, Tennessee on June 19, 1993, and Kim survives.

Mark and Kim have two sons, Jacob Alan Hancock (20) and Matthew Lee Hancock (16) and they both survive.

Mark then began a career as a fabricator at Lebanon, Rack, in Lebanon, Tennessee from 1992 to 1998. Mark always had a passion for racing, like his father.  While living in Tennessee, Mark had the opportunity to mentor under a Nascar team for a year, not realizing that this experience would lead him to his lifelong dream of working on a Nascar circuit.  Mark began his Nascar career at Sadler Racing in Nashville,Tennessee from 1998 to 2000.

In 2000, Mark was offered a position as an engine specialist and pit crew member for the Bobby Hamilton Sr. Racing team. In 2004, the team won the Nascar Craftsman Truck Series Championship, as well as, being named the Craftsman Truck Series Engine Tuner of the Year. Mark worked for BHR until Bobby Sr. passed away from Cancer in 2007.

From 2007 to 2008, Mark worked from Baker Curb Racing in Nashville, Tennessee as an Engine Specialist and pit crew member. In 2009, Mark and his family came back home to Stryker, Ohio and he worked for Tony Marks Racing in Napoleon, Ohio. In 2011, he began working at M.W. Solutions in Defiance, Ohio, up until his battle with Cancer began in 2016.

Anyone who knew Mark, knew of his love and knowledge of music and his bass guitar playing abilities. Mark was a member of several local rock and roll bands throughout his life and continued as a band member until his passing. But, nothing compared to the love he had for his family and friends, especially his two boys.

Visitation for Mark will be held from 2:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday, June 11, 2019, at the Stryker United Methodist Church, 301 Cherry St., Stryker, Ohio. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, also at the church, with Pastor Nico Kinner and Jeff Keegan, Minister, officiating. The family requests that memorial contributions be given to the benevolence of the family. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.grisierfh.com. Grisier Funeral Home in Stryker has been entrusted with arrangements.