Mark Howard Leonard

The Red River flows between Mark Leonard’s birthplace of Grand Forks, ND, and his childhood home of East Grand Forks, MN. Both towns are named after the fork of the Red River and the Red Lake River to its east. Mark’s life is like a river in many ways: sometimes twisting and turning, sometimes flowing through brisk rapids, and other times calmly flowing. And like the river, Mark also navigated significant “forks” in his life—big decisions that would shape his life and legacy.

Mark’s childhood and school years flowed freely—full of music, basketball, tennis, and family and friends. Some exciting rapids hit the river of Mark’s life while at the University of North Dakota when the Thief River Falls flutist caught his eye. A couple years later Mark faced one of his first major forks in his road—follow the girl to California or go his own way? Thankfully, God led Mark to follow the girl west for their self-proclaimed “two-year California adventure,” and thus began the adventures of Mark and Jill.

That first year in California was challenging for Mark, teaching marching band at Sierra Vista HS in Baldwin Park; but he navigated the rapids of that experience with grit, patience, and determination. Through those challenging experiences, God brought Mark and Jill closer together. They were soon engaged and then married on July 19, 2003.

Mark and Jill entered a two-year period of relatively calm waters with Mark teaching band and choir at Ontario Christian High School and Jill continuing to teach music at Redlands Christian School. Mark’s creativity, curiosity, and entrepreneurial spirit led him to explore new and exciting opportunities. He delved more deeply into hobbies like photography and writing, eventually establishing a photography business: Mark Leonard Imaging.

The next several years were exciting, whitewater-like rapids of life: international trips to Liberia and Thailand with God’s Kids, a growing family (a dog; then a daughter, Madelyn; and a couple years later another daughter Mackenzie and then another daughter, Katelyn), and then a new job in the Development department at Redlands Christian Schools. Mark’s talents also flowed through the River Christian Reformed Church as a council member and worship team member.

Mark truly found his niche in the world of marketing and earned a Master’s Degree in Marketing from California State University, San Bernardino. Mark established Ictus Strategic Marketing, using his talents in photography, writing, podcasting, and videography to tell his beloved clients’ stories.

Mark impacted countless lives through his career. However, his greatest legacy will live on through Jill and his girls Madelyn, Mackenzie, and Katelyn. They each reflect Mark to the world in their own unique ways: through humor, an entrepreneurial spirit, a love of reading and writing, musical talents, artistic creativity, intelligence, courage, and most importantly their faith. Mark will be forever remembered, forever loved.

Mark is survived by his wife Jill, and daughters, Madelyn, Mackenzie, and Katelyn, of Beaumont, CA; his father, Don Leonard, and sister, Cit Mae, of East Grand Forks, MN; his brother, Doug Leonard (Corrine), of Blaine, MN; and several nieces and nephews. Mark is preceded in death by his mother Patricia Leonard.

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