As reported in 40 South News, Maplewood resident Mark Soest, 55, died in a single-car accident just south of Maplewood on May 17.
A friend of Soest has set up a YouCaring website to help his wife Jan Soest with funeral expenses. Soest was self-employed and didn’t have life insurance. Even after looking around for the best funeral prices, it was still going to cost the family a huge amount of money. The family want the best send off possible for Mark, and hope that the local community will help raise money to say goodbye to a well known resident of the area in the nicest way possible.
Go here to contribute to funeral expenses.
Visitation will be held at Jay B. Smith Funeral Home, 7456 Manchester, May 23, 2 p.m. – 9 p.m. The service will be 8 – 8:30 p.m.
If anyone is looking for the youcaring link to help Janice Soest with funeral expenses for Mark Soest and can’t find it anywhere, I have it in my bio. Thank you so much for your help!
https://www.youcaring.com/janicesoest-827571
Mark did so much work for many of us here in Maplewood and around STL. He was my student decades ago and showed up in my again a few years back. He and his crew replaced old moldy rotten wood and renovated much of my old house. I am not alone in my gratitude. In our many talks, we remembered old times–Maplewood in the 70’s–and he gave me straight, talk, encouragement, vision. Now some of these visions he will not be around to fulfill. Yet he connected me also with his family and many other former students, and I am deeply grateful. Please contribute if you are able and moved to do so.