Harley F. Marek
Harley F Marek, a much-loved husband, father, grandfather, and pillar of his community, passed away on Sunday, June 8, 2025, at the age of 80. A Memorial Mass will begin at 10:00 am Thursday, June 12, 2025 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Sioux Falls, SD. The family will be present to greet friends for a Memorial Visitation from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory in Sioux Falls with Liturgical Wake Service beginning at 7:00 pm.
Born in Warren, Minnesota, to Lawrence and Elsie Marek, Harley lived a life defined by kindness, unwavering faith, and service to others. He built a fulfilling career in banking starting in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota before he moved his family to Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1977 to take a position at First National Bank of Sioux Falls, where he served as Vice President of Information Systems. His professional dedication was matched only by his devotion to family, faith, and community.
Harley was a lifelong sports enthusiast, whether on the field or in the stands. In his younger years, he was an avid racquetball player, later channeling his competitive spirit into golf, where he played on several league teams and built lasting friendships. His love of sports extended to his family—he was a proud coach, an enthusiastic supporter, and never missed a game or band performance his children participated in. He also ran softball tournaments with the Morning Optimist Club leading him to be named Optimist of the Year twice. This adventure combined his love of sports with community service.
A founding member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Harley gave generously of his time, serving as a lead usher and Eucharistic minister. His favorite part of Sunday Mass was the time spent before and after services, catching up with friends, forming connections, and sharing stories—a testament to his warm and generous spirit.
He is survived by his wife, Darlene, whom he met at the age of 18 and was instantly smitten with her. Known to their friends as “Har and Dar,” the two were rarely apart, sharing a deep bond and a life devoted to one another. Together, they raised their children—Janelle (George Jr.) Lipetzky, Dena (Sven) Noe', and Ed (Jessica) Marek—and found immense joy in their growing family. Harley was a proud and devoted grandfather “Pompa” to Calvin (Sadie) Lipetzky, Rylan Lipetzky (Tara Jones), Connor (Samantha) Marek and Aubrey Lipetzky (Mark Hof). He is also survived by his sister, Paddy Barton.
Harley was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Elsie (Stengl) Marek; and brothers, Wayne Marek and Lynn Marek.