Mark Babich

Mark Anthony Babich, proud and loving son, brother, uncle, father, grandpa, and friend, passed away peacefully December 24, 2025 at the age of 85. Mark was born March 28, 1940, in Wichita, KS, the son of John and Helen Babich (née Stroot). He grew up in Wichita with his seven siblings, graduating from Chaplain Kapaun Memorial High School in 1958. He enlisted in the Army to proudly serve in the 101st Airborne Division, then attended Wichita University and held various jobs, his favorite being a gym teacher and basketball coach, before starting his restaurant career.

He was offered a role with a Pizza Hut franchisee, and went on to oversee the opening of stores across the United States, before returning to Wichita to start his family. He made lifelong friends as the restaurant business took him to Houston, Louisville, Atlanta, Tulsa, Austin, San Antonio, and Maastricht, Netherlands, before returning to Kansas to open and operate Panera locations before retiring.

Mark had many pursuits outside of career and family. He loved cars from an early age, and built many clever gadgets for them, as well as for his homes, and restaurants. He cherished friends he made hunting, playing basketball, golf, and tennis. He travelled frequently, and especially loved the trip with his family to Biluca, Croatia, where his father and grandfather were born.

Mark was preceded in death by his wife, Guillermina “Wilma” Babich (née Garza), and the mother of his children, Margarette Babich (née Cooper); as well as his parents, John and Helen Babich; siblings, William Babich and Kathryn James; and his beautiful granddaughter, Katherine Babich.

Mark is survived by his children, Cooper Babich (Jennifer), Adrian Kelly (Patrick), and Aislinn Reno (Chris), and his grandchildren, Alex Babich, Sam Reno, Caroline Reno, Quinn Kelly, and Mae Kelly, as well as siblings, David Babich (Joyce), Carol McCollum, Joan Barrier, Paul Babich, and Alice Simon (Randy).

Services will be Tuesday, January 6, 2026 at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 430 N Broadway in Wichita, Kansas. There will be a Rosary at 9:30am, followed by the funeral mass at 10am, with a luncheon immediately following in the St. Pius X Room, upstairs. The inurnment will be at Calvary Cemetery at 1:30pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Mark Babich Memorial for John and Helen Babich Scholarship for Student Teachers in Social Studies. A link will be generated shortly to donate online. Once the link is available, it can be accessed here.