Howard Marcus

On Saturday, June 12, 2021, Howard Nathan Marcus, loving husband, father of three passed away at the age of 80. Howard was born on July 22, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois to Samuel & Mildred (Milly) Marcus. He grew up in Wichita, KS where he attended elementary and secondary school. He received a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of Colorado, Boulder (1962). He received a Post Graduate Degree in Animal Husbandry from Kansas State University (1963). On February 2nd, 1964, he married the love of his life, Rose Merle Marks of Dallas, Texas. Howard & Rose raised their three children, Bonnie Susan, David Loren, and William (Billy) Benjamin, in Wichita, Kansas. Howard’s children, nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews were his pride and joy. Howard had an entrepreneurial spirit combined with a strong moral compass. Soon after working with his late father’s business MBPXL (formerly Kansas Packing dba Excel), he founded Marcus Food Company in 1980 and grew the company from a one-man sales office to a multi-national trading office in the same meat industry he knew and loved. Howard had a passion for traveling, frequently visiting his children, nieces and nephews. There wasn’t a continent he hadn’t seen or a region he either visited or knew something about. Howard enjoyed socializing with friends, playing cards, creating community and of course, doing all of this around a good meal. He also loved to play golf. Howard was a supporter of WSU since the 70s, his university involvement includes the WSU Foundation’s Board of Directors and National Advisory Council. Over the years, community support has included the boards of directors of Music Theatre of Wichita, The Wichita Symphony, Stage One, Temple Emanu-El and the Wichita Mid-Kansas Jewish Federation. In 2003, Howard and his wife, Rose, contributed to the building of the Marcus Welcome Center at WSU, constructed on the site of his parents’ former education center. Howard was an impassioned supporter of the Jewish causes and through his wife Rose he has contributed his time and support to countless organizations that have spanned this community and throughout the world. Most importantly, he was known for being the patriarch of the family, his family, his extended family and beyond. He believed in family first, his connection to family is a legacy that will last for generations to come. Howard was preceded in death by his mother and father and his daughter Bonnie. He is survived by his wife, Rose; his two children, David Loren, and William (Billy) Benjamin; brother, Jerome David Marcus; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. The funeral service will be held on Monday, June 14th at 11:00 am at Joan S. Beren Wichita Jewish Community Center. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Mid-Kansas Jewish Federation, 400 N. Woodlawn, Ste. 8, Wichita, KS 67208 - mkjf.org; Marcus Welcome Fund, c/o Wichita State University Foundation, 1845 Fairmount St., Wichita, KS 67260 - https://foundation.wichita.edu/