Ethan Marks

Ethan Alexander Marks, 20, of Idaho Falls, died September 22, 2012, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. He was born July 9, 1992, in Idaho Falls, to Glenn Marks and Lori Olsen Marks. Ethan grew up in Idaho Falls, attending schools at Longfellow Elementary, Taylor View Jr. High, and Idaho Fall High School, where he graduated in 2011 with high honors. He was preceded in death by his mother, Lori Olsen Marks, who died in 2003 when Ethan was 11 years old. He is survived by his father, Glenn Marks, his sister, Olivia, grandparents, Ron and JoAnn Marks, great-grandmother, Ruth Cannon, grandmother, Sheila Olsen, and his girlfriend, Whitney Moss; also six uncles, four aunts, 40 first cousins and a host of friends. Ethan cut a wide swath of achievement in his short life. His love to serve others was reflected in his choice to join Boys Fed and serve his school and the community at large. He graduated high school Summa Cum Laude and was awarded a full-ride academic scholarship to Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah. At the time of his death, he was in his second year of college, studying marketing and maintaining a straight A GPA. Friends were an integral part of his life. He was loyal to his friends and was well liked by friends and associates who named him "Mr. Congeniality" at Idaho Falls High School. He made everything fun. His peers said of him that he was confident; he didn't need others approval but he constantly gave his approval to others. He loved to play his guitar. Family was especially important to Ethan. His sister, Olivia, was one of his best friends and his confidant. His trip to Costa Rica with her last summer was one of the highlights of his life. He maintained a close relationship with his dad, including an ability to talk with him about anything. He loved to go shooting with him. They shared the same sense of humor. He respected and followed his dad's work ethic. Ethan was particularly close to his Marks' grandparents. He loved eating dinner at their house, and considered his grandma a "sweetheart." He loved his grandpa and tried to be like him, including wearing his boots as a little kid. Ethan loved and missed his mom, Lori Olsen Marks, and was unfailingly kind and courteous to the Olsen family, especially his Grandma Olsen. In recollecting his traits, his closest friends described him as "genuine, kind, hard-working, self-motivated, positive, accepting, loyal, gave 100% percent to everything he did, was constantly trying to improve and did his best to be a good person." Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 29, 2012, at Calvary Chapel, 4250 South 25th East, Idaho Falls, Idaho. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, a memorial donation to the "Wounded Warriors Project," P. O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 be considered. See http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/.

Memorial Services -- Saturday

2:00 p.m. ,Saturday, September 29, 2012 Calvary Chapel 4250 South 25th East Idaho Falls, ID 83401 Notes: The family will visit with friends Saturday following the services at the church.