The funeral service for Mark Stuart McCormick, 44, will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1145 N. 5th Ave. (Route 25), St. Charles. Burial will take place in Indiana. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, at the Yurs Funeral Home, 405 E. Main St., St. Charles.

Born Sept. 4, 1963, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Homer D. and Sheila McCormick, he died Saturday, July 19, 2008, at Pine View Care Center in St. Charles.

Mark moved to the Chicagoland area in his early childhood. In his youth, Mark was an avid runner in cross country and track & field at Niles West High School and Oakton Community College.

At the young age of 25, Mark was debilitated by a traumatic head injury. Making strives through the last 18 years at Pine View Nursing Home, Mark had steadily made progress with the love of family and friends.

St. Charles residents may remember Mark for the annual charity run held for his benefit every August in St. Charles, the Mark McCormick Milers, Fox River Run, which started in 1992. This August, the run will be held in Mark's honor and will be the last run.

He is survived by his devoted mother, Sheila McCormick of St. Charles; a brother, Keith McCormick of Niles; a sister, Heather Baukert of Indianapolis, Ind.; his niece, Kaitlyn Baukert of Indianapolis; and family in Pennsylvania and also England. He was preceded in death by his father, Homer "Mac" McCormick.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Mark McCormick Foundation, P.O. Box 3842, St. Charles, IL 60174. For information, 630-232-7337.