www.MeM.com

When I met Mark Meckes in 2000, one of the things that Mark wanted to do was to "write a book". He wanted me to help him with this task and while my initial reaction was "I did not want to write a book!" I soon realized that Mark had so much knowledge that he was willing to share, that I would try to help him achieve that goal in any way that I could. Steadfast (and stubborn) in his ways and in his desire to write and share information, he found the software, I learned to load it up and his book began at http://www.bamboocraft.net

While Mark never really got the chance to complete his book - we are grateful that he took the time to begin.

He organized all the 'Chapters Headings' at the Bamboo Forums and at the 3 photo galleries and his thoughts are interspersed and entertaining in the many different threads and posts that he pondered over and thoughtfully answered.

Perhaps some day they will be compiled into the book that he wanted to write - or perhaps they will all just stay as they are and other people will contribute additional thoughts and information and enjoy the forum and galleries that he created.

Mark Joel Meckes died peacefully of cardio vascular failure (atherosclerosis) on Tuesday, October 16, 2007. He was sitting in a chair when his life's breath expired. He was just 55 years old.

Mark had many interests and was a gifted writer, artisan, craftsman, photographer, landscaper and a lover of all plants. He went out of his way to help others and few could stand up to his desire to gain knowledge and at the expense of his own time, share the knowledge to help others. Most of his recent research studies revolved around the 1200 different species of bamboo.

Mark Meckes' tinkering with bamboo began as a child living in the remote interior highlands of Papua New Guinea, a region of extensive bamboo utilization and one of the last remaining vestiges of the Stone Age (non metal) culture. Mark received his first pocket knife around this time and repaired and learned how to play a worn out bamboo jaw harp which he found while living in a bamboo house. He treasured a special jaw harp in the collection of jaw harps that later made.

Bamboo appeared in his life again when he lived in Australia, and again in the US. It was only natural that he incorporated bamboo into his arts and craft work. Since the mid 1980's, he established a bamboo nursery in Pennsylvania, distributed bamboo plants from the USDA Germ-plasm Repository to other nurseries and zoological organizations, and continued to explore the diversified species and versatile uses of bamboo.

In the year 2000, Mark Meckes began to share his bamboo experiences on the internet and implemented a dream - beginning the Bamboo Arts and Craft Network, a free informational website for people to learn and share information about living, growing and working with bamboo. Currently the website has grown to include over 4000 subscribers from around the globe. The photo galleries and discussion forum is located at http://www.bamboocraft.net. Memorial contributions can be made to the Bamboo Arts and Craft Network to help perpetuate the free informational site.

Memorial services were held at 1 P.M., Monday, October 22, 2007, in the Colonial Chapel of Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, Texas. An additional Memorial Gathering was held in Blakeslee, Pennsylvania on Saturday, May 24, 2008.

The guest book remains available for anyone who would like to write an entry.
Great appreciation is extended to all those who have visited this site to pay their respects to a great man and forward thinker, Mark J. Meckes.

Mark is survived by his Wife: Carole Meckes; Parents (now deceased October 2008): Reverend Theodore & Florence Meckes of Blakeslee, PA; Daughter: Vanessa Meckes-Lago; Grand-daughter: Raine Lago; Grandson: Ari Lago of Australia; Sons: Matthew and Joel Meckes and their mother, Candy Meckes of England; Sisters: Sharon Karantinos, Rebecca Marentis( now deceased), Faith Michaels, Hope Yoder, Love Beatty; Brother: John Meckes; Brother-in-laws: Stephen Pincus, Harry Karantinos, Rodger Marentis, Stephan Yoder, Dave Beatty; 17 Nieces and Nephews; and numerous friends and readers of his website. His sister, Marilyn Michell preceded him in death.

update: In October 2008, Mark's parents passed away. First his Dad on October 13, 2008 and his Mother slipped away 9 days later on Oct 22, 2008.

updated by Carole Meckes, April 23, 2009.