A month on from the sudden death of Mark Stevens, his family in Masterton are mourning the loss of a man whose magnetic personality drew people to him.
Southward Theatre in Paraparaumu was packed to capacity to farewell Mark, who had spent most of his life working there as a draftsman.He died of cancer aged 59 on April 25, within weeks of being diagnosed.
He leaves a wife, two children, two step-children, and two grandchildren.
His brother Grant said Mark was "missed a lot by his family and friends".
Growing up in Masterton, Mark had a keen interest in architecture and, after finishing school at Wairarapa College, he went to work at the Masterton Post Office in the drawing office for four years to train as a draftsman.
He then moved to Paraparaumu and designed 11 retirement villages for Summerset, making friends and getting involved in sport.
His father Melvin said he loved Masterton and missed it when he left to go to Paraparaumu.
"His mother would keep him informed of the happenings here in Masterton, he really loved it," he said. "He was a special boy, right from the kick-off."
Mark played for Masterton Football Club as a boy, and grew up to love running, fishing, golf and cycling.
By friends, he was described as a man who had a "fantastic sense of humour and enjoyed a good practical joke" and loved to be around people all the time, always listening, enjoying conversation and offering the occasional opinion.
