On December 13, 2024, Mark Hornaday, affectionately known as Mark Sanford when he was in trouble, “Horny Toad” by his buddies, and Poppa Mark in his final years, was surrounded by family as they said their final goodbyes.
Mark was born in Centerville, IA on May 12, 1953 to Everette and Hazel Hornaday. He joined three older brothers, and tolerated another brother being added to the crew seven years later. He grew up on the dairy farm, and quickly learned the importance of hard work and dedication to doing things correctly the first time. He spent his days serving others at the Clark Station on Highway 2, where people appreciated his attention to detail and friendly banter. This is where he first spotted Karen Howard, his soon-to-be wife of 48 years. Together they dominated the highways of Centerville and Exline with his 72 GTO, and decided to get hitched on August 28, 1976.
Mark and Karen quickly decided to start a family. Their son Jerad Hornaday was born on August 7th, 1977; however, he devastatingly passed away on August 21st 1977. Jerad’s passing didn’t supress Mark and Karen’s desire to have a family. Amanda was born in 1979, quickly followed by Tashina in 1981. At that time, Mark split his time between being at home raising his family, and driving a Chevy coal truck between Unionville, Missouri and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He later transitioned to driving a Peterbilt across I-80. In the early 1980s he decided to spend more time at home, and he went back to school, obtaining a degree in building trades from Indian Hills Community College. He briefly worked at Clark Sinclair and began full-time work at Young Radiator shortly thereafter. Mark spent his evenings tending to a barn full of rabbits, running to little league softball games for his girls, and attending high school athletics for his nieces and nephews. He was notorious for prompting his girls to join the “poop scooping party” on Saturday mornings, watching his Hawkeyes play, and cheering on the Oakland Raiders. You would also catch him priming a fishing line with some nasty smelling stink bait at Rathbun lake, or making some jewelry boxes or pictures frames to sell at the local craft show. He also enjoyed small animal auctions and was once suckered into to bringing home a baby goat. Following the closing of Young Radiator, he began working at Pella Corporation in the 1990s, and eventually Mark and Karen moved to Knoxville in 2000.
Mark LOVED to tell people about his grandkids, and this began in 2007 when Kolton arrived. His joy doubled in 2011 when his favorite granddaughter was born, and his grandchild trio was complete in 2014 when Noah came onto the scene. Over the past 17 years, you would find Mark at a variety of sporting venues supporting his grandchildren. You would also find him at the dirt tracks watching modified and late model racing. He continued to be an avid sports fan, and the tattoos on his arm let you know that he was a “Hawk 4 life” and he was always encouraging Green Bay to “Go Pack Go”.
He retired in 2019, following many years of perfect attendance. He was able to fully embrace the best chapter of his life, and the people he loved. Mark will be remembered for his endless friendly banter, witty sarcasm (ask us about rubber chicken, and the run down shack), love for his family and his ability to shoot the breeze with anyone, particularly if it was related to his grandchildren or sports.
Mark is survived by his wife, Karen Hornaday of Knoxville, IA; his daughters, Amanda Grafft of Tiffin, Iowa and Tashina (Nathan Thomas) Hornaday of Knoxville; his three grandchildren, Kolton Hornaday of Knoxville, Lily Grafft and Noah Grafft of Tiffin; his brothers, Gene (Jeanette) Hornaday of Missouri, David (Carol) Hornaday of Mystic, IA, and Charlie (Chanda) Hornaday of Oklahoma; his sister-in-law, Deb Hornaday; his brother in law Don (Cindy) Howard of Oskaloosa, IA, many nieces and nephews, and his cherished Shih Tzu (Izzy). He was preceded in death by his parents, Everett and Hazel Hornaday, and son, Jerad, and brother, Paul Hornaday.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, December 19th, 2024 with family present from 5-7 p.m at Sinnott Funeral Home in Albia. The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, December 20, 2024 at Sinnott Funeral in Albia. Dressing up was the bane of Mark’s existence. As such, please wear your favorite Hawkeye (or other team) apparel to the visitation and funeral. Mark will be cremated following services with inurnment taking place at a later date in Haynes Cemetery near Centerville. Memorials have been established to the family, and will be directed at a later date. Sinnott Funeral Homes of Ottumwa and Albia assisting with services.
