Mark Koekebakker Low

Mark was 56 when he peacefully passed from our lives. His immediate family was close by his side the last few days. We enabled him to move from this life as best we could by meeting his needs, loving him and seeing that we all had our last moment with him. We know he felt loved.

Mark started his life in London, Ontario on April 21, 1957, born to June (nee Campbell) and Ronald Low. He had an older sister Joisann and two younger sisters Stephanie Gamblin (husband Louis of Great Britain) and Tracey (husband Tom Evensen) of Toronto. They lived in various homes, in and around London, until his family moved to Toronto when his parents separated. He was predeceased by his mother June Turnbull, his sister Stephanie Gamblin, his brother-in-law Thomas Evensen and father Ronald Low.

He attended high school in Toronto and started work on a BA at Graceland College in Iowa. At Graceland they offered a program to study Japanese and teach English at the same time. He received a certificate from Kansai Gaidai in Osaka for completion of the school’s one year Japanese language and Japan Studies program in June of 1977 and he worked for Shogaku English School teaching English mainly to elementary school children where he met Keith Henry who is still a close friend. Keith shared with me recently that he thought Mark’s interest in teaching and working with kids started at this school. He was very popular with both the teachers and students.

He found his way to Graceland College in Iowa where he graduated in 1987 receiving his BA in International Studies. He continued his studies in 1990, encouraged by long time friends, Scott and Cathy Baker, when he attended Teachers College at York University graduating in June 1991. He began his teaching career working supply and Long Term Occasional openings until he was offered a contract to work at Eastview Junior Public School in 1996. He found his home at Eastview and has taught there for many years.

His first marriage gave him a son Grant Bradley-Low and a daughter Emily Bradley-Low. After the marriage broke up he went to great lengths to stay close to his children. Many years were spent travelling between Toronto and Owen Sound or Guelph to spend weekends with them. He kept a close relationship with both his son and daughter and more recently with his grandson Johnny Bradley-Low who turns 7 on March 4th. We had a wonderful time together with Grant and Julie, and with Emily, Felix and Johnny when they spent part of the Christmas break with us just a few weeks ago.

Mark and I (Anja Koekebakker) were married in October 1991 and we began our happy life together in Toronto. We travelled to the Netherlands in 1995 where our oldest son Kazuo was born. When we returned to Canada with our new little bundle of joy we lived in Oshawa for a number of years. Our youngest son Akio was born there in 2001 just before we moved back to Toronto where we presently live on Coronation Drive.

At the beginning of our marriage Mark and I were both very involved in a Christian Church participating frequently as musicians. Mark did an amazing job of leading services as a lay clergy member. The services were always vibrant and meaningful and full of music. Mark was always questioning and seeking more knowledge. I remember a day a few years ago when he said he was going to start a new religion. There was only one rule. “Be Nice”. In the last few years he found inspiration in the writings of Christopher Hitchens, Eckhart Tolle, Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris just to name a few.

Music is what first drew us together and has been a sustaining bond over the many years of our marriage. Often when I sat down to play Mark would quietly walk in and just listen. It will be a very healing memory in the days to come. All of his four children are also involved in music. They have all chosen guitars as one of their instruments. Music was a big part of his teaching at Eastview. He was instrumental (lol) in providing the school song “Rainbow Made of Children”. I know this is a favourite of many students. One of my other favourites is the Hallowe’en song he taught each year (When you’re in the bedroom and the lights are out).

One of the greatest moments in our lives was when we found out our oldest son Kazuo had recovered and was cancer free after a year-long battle with cancer. We were able to travel, as a family, through the Children’s Wish Foundation for a 10-day trip to Japan. It was Kazuo’s trip but Mark was thrilled. Mark reconnected with life long friend Keith Henry and we marveled at the stories the two of them told us about their adventures as they showed us around Tokyo and Kyoto. We hardly slept. Amazing memories!

Mark was reconnected with the study of Aikido, a Japanese martial art about 7 years ago when we moved back to Toronto. He experienced it first during his time in Japan and always wanted to get back to it. He met Sensei Eric Sheffield and Sensei Debra McAllister at the Kokoro Dojo in Scarborough. He wanted to share this with Kazuo and Akio (and Grant was involved for a short time). Just before being diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma he was on the mats himself being thrown and flipping like a pro, working towards a brown belt with Kazuo. Mark wasn’t able to continue after the diagnosis as his bones were too fragile. Kazuo has since achieved his Brown Belt with one stripe and is now working towards his last Brown Belt to begin his Black Belt. Mark was able to see Akio test just before Christmas for his Blue Belt. He was so proud and pleased that they kept going, even though it meant Kazuo surpassed him.

Mark was also a great gymnast in his earlier years. During one of his high school years, he was the WOSSA champion. Each summer I knew it was vacation time when Mark splashed into the pool from a handstand on the diving board. He shared this love with Akio who is now a competitive gymnast in Men’s Artistic Gymnastics at the East York Gymnastics Club. Mark would get so excited talking to him about his next steps and encouraging Akio to be the best he could be. Akio will feel close to his dad as he continues to work hard and excel in gymnastics.

Mark’s years at Eastview are best remembered by talking to the staff and students, whose lives he touched. He loved his job, jumping out of bed each morning to rush into Eastview for some project he was involved with. We know many students cared for him by the number that have dropped by our house over the years, just to say hi. The best part for him was always the students and how he could make life just a little more interesting or exciting, encouraging students to be life long learners as he was.

He will be missed by many extended family members including brother-in-law Ron Koekebakker and Janice from Woodstock, their sons; Jeremy Koekebakker and wife Jenn and their children Chloe and Kobe; Justin Koekebakker and wife Heather and their children Tyler and Lucas, brother-in-law Wally Koekebakker and wife Pam from Bobcaygeon. Nieces, Alice Evensen, Sally Evensen, Annie Evensen , and nephew Joe Evensen, Cornelius Low and Julius Low.

There are countless friends that were more like family that will share our grief. Mark had a huge heart and wasn’t afraid to share it with others. Our life together was always full of humour. A laugh was never far from our lips. We remember all these wonderful things about Mark, as we now must move forward without him.

“Life isn't as serious as my mind makes it out to be.”

― Eckhart Tolle