Mark Russell Clevenger

The Reverend Canon Mark Russell Clevenger, 65, passed away April 30, 2026, at the Midland Hospice House in Topeka.

Born on November 25, 1960, and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Mark graduated from the University of Michigan. He went on to earn a Master of Divinity from Yale University, in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1986, he moved to Kansas and earned his Law Degree from Kansas University. While completing his degree, Mark served as an assistant Priest at both Trinity Episcopal Church, Lawrence, and at Canterbury House, the Episcopal Church at KU.

Mark touched many lives on a daily basis. In 1989 Mark started his work as the founding Vicar of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Lawrence. He spent months knocking on hundreds of doors, generating enough positive responses to where they started meeting in homes. As the number of parishioners grew, they moved to a meeting area in Brandon Woods, and later to Quail Run School which had more room. Mark was instrumental in eventually obtaining a gift of land to build a new church, and worked with the Bishop, Trustees, and lawyers to make it possible. The parish grew to 400 families in six years.

While living in Lawrence, Mark was also instrumental in the development of The Bishop Seabury Academy, an Episcopal middle and high school which opened in 1997. He was on the board which helped launch the school and served as their first Chaplain.

Following his work at St. Margaret’s, Mark’s work led him to various diocesen positions. He become the Canon Mission Strategist in the Diocese of Minnesota, the Diocesan Mission Developer in the diocese of Chicago, and the Canon to the Ordinary in the Diocese of Upper South Carolina, where congregational development was among his many areas of responsibility.

In 2008, Mark moved to Long Island and became the second rector of St. Anselm’s Church, Shoreham, New York. After the Sept 11th terrorist attack in 2001, Mark served as the lead Chaplain for the Long Island Spiritual Care Team to assist victims and their families. He also assisted following the 2012 Hurricane Sandy. Mark later moved to Utah, and joined the Episcopal Diocese of Utah as Missioner for Congregational Development.

By 2018, Reverend Canon Mark Clevenger returned to Lawrence, Kansas to retire. He was an avid reader and loved music, being an accomplished trumpet player and a classically trained guitarist. And he absolutely loved his dogs, which were his constant companions.

Mark spent his life in service to the Episcopal Church and will be remembered as a devoted priest, a loyal friend, and a wise counselor.

Mark is survived by a brother, Robert, and three sisters, Lynn Root, Louise Myers, and Deborah Slen. He is preceded in death by his parents Elmer and Iris (Hazel) Clevenger.

A funeral mass will be officiated by Bishop Bonnie Perry at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Lawrence, Kansas on June 3rd, 2026 at 11:00 AM.

In light of his love for animals, it is suggested that any gifts in Mark’s memory please be donated to The Lawrence Humane Society in Rev. Canon Mark Clevenger’s name.