Rest In Peace Mark Garback
So many times we hear people talking about an acquaintance or a loved one and you hear the words, “they died doing what they loved.” Now doing what they loved could mean so many things. It could be jogging in the park, snow skiing down the most challenging slopes, fighting a raging house fire, defending the streets from crime, or thousands of other activities. Mark Garback died due to the injuries he suffered while riding a motorcycle. Now this was not your ordinary, every day motorcycle riding. No, this was riding funeral escort, providing a clear path for the procession to move their loved one to their final resting place.
Mark was a 47 year old military veteran who loved motorcycling. Much of his everyday life involved motorcycling whether riding the funeral escorts, riding for pleasure, or teaching motorcycle safety. Mark was a long time instructor in the ABATE of Indiana Motorcycle Safety Program teaching both the Beginner Rider Course (BRC) and the Experienced Rider Course (ERC). I remember watching my first ERC back in 2002, my rookie year of instructing, where Mark was one of the instructors. In the experienced course the students ride their own motorcycles in the class and the instructors ride their personal motorcycles for the demonstration rides before each range exercise. As I observed this class, I noticed that there was an instructor on a white Fatboy that was showing amazing handling skills. That was Mark. A confident motorcycle rider and a confident person.
And let’s not forget, he was pretty confident with the ladies too!
It is ironic that tomorrow we will have the showing for Mark and on Wednesday the memorial service will allow friends and family to say their final goodbyes. As the motorcycle hearse takes Mark for his final ride, led by his beloved Fatboy, I will choose to remember Mark as he is in the pictures in this post, always smiling, and I am sure that others will choose the same. Goodbye Mark. It was a pleasure knowing you.
UPDATE
The last time that I had the opportunity to speak with Mark was early in the training season around the end of March. When Angie, Derek, and I arrived at the showing last night there was a Yamaha FZ1 parked outside the entrance doors in the grass. Marks boots were on the pegs turned backwards. I inquired about the motorcycle and was shocked to learn that on April 11th, Mark had traded his beloved Fatboy for the FZ1. He had always wanted a sportbike in addition to the HD and had quietly made the trade. So, Mark will be led home today by his newest two wheel love, this Yamaha FZ1.
Tags: ABATE, escort, funeral, FZ1, Garback, harley davidson, motorcycle, Yamaha
May 11th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
Simply tragic!
May 12th, 2009 at 8:25 am
God must be needing a riding partner up in heaven. Mark’s death is a sad loss to the motorcycling community, ABATE of Indiana, and the Motorcycle Safety family. He will be missed and remembered. Peace be with his family and friends.
May 12th, 2009 at 9:07 am
Here at IronWorks magazine our thoughts and prayers go out to Mark’s friends and family during this time. The lose of a fellow rider is always tragic. The lose of one who pledged his life to the safety of others as a serviceman and then as an instructor for ABATE makes his death all the more tragic. I never had the opportunity to meet Mark, but he sounds like the kind of guy that I’d of enjoyed sharing the road with. Go in peace Mark, your riding with the big man now!
May 12th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
A real loss for the motorcycle world. My thought are for mark and his. I did not know you but sounds like I would have like to.
May 14th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
Such a sad, sad story. Truly tragic. My thoughts to his family and friends.
May 24th, 2009 at 11:25 am
Godspeed Mark.
Thanks for being the person you were to all who had the honor of knowing you and your sense of humor and quirky mannerisms.
Love, Papaw
May 26th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Thank you so much for being the great person you were but most of all the friend that you were to me and many many others. We all had great honor to know and love you. We will miss you so much until I finally get my ride with you in Heaven I love and miss you hugs and kisses RIP
October 16th, 2009 at 11:33 am
It is with great sadness that I learned of the loss of our dear friend,Mark.All of the Ky CUB adoption community friends will miss you.You were an inspiration to us all.