Mark Lee Reiling

A service to celebrate his life will be held at 3:00 PM, Saturday, January 25 at Surprise Funeral Care, 16063 West Bell Road, Surprise, AZ 85379. A time of fellowship and remembrance, with light hors d’oeuvres, will immediately follow until 5:00 PM.

Mark was born January 4, 1951 in Carroll, IA to Leo and Ann (Anthofer) Reiling. He grew up with his siblings on their family farm, learning the value of hard work, grit and perseverance. Mark graduated from Elkton High School in 1969 before marrying Pauline (Snyder) in 1975 and having three daughters together. He went on to run his own farm in Grand Meadow, MN. After farming, Mark discovered his gift for woodwork and opened his own custom cabinetry shop, building full kitchens, furniture, and other projects from wood. After legally separating from his former wife, Mark married Janet (Quittschreiber) in 1992 and the two lived the next 25 years together in Owatonna and Audubon, MN, and Apache Junction, Mesa, Surprise and Bullhead City, AZ. Mark spent his last years forming new friendships, spending time with family, and taking the occasion jaunt into the desert in his UTV Ranger. Mark was a remarkable man—a generous friend to any and all, quick with a witty joke and warm smile, an innovator and engineer, with a sharp mind and equally entrepreneurial heart, a devoted husband, and a proud, loving father to his three beautiful girls. He was a good man. Imperfect like the rest of us, but a very good man.

Mark is survived by his three daughters, Jennifer Reiling of St. Paul, MN, Melissa Grice and her husband Ben of Surprise, AZ, and Kristin Araujo-Gwin and her husband Porfirio of Rochester, MN; three grandchildren, Annie, Ezra and Asher Grice, his brother Bill of Pine Island, MN, his sisters Mary Ann (Bill) of Elgin, IL, Ida of Plymouth, MN, and Doreen (Richard) of Blooming Prairie, MN, along with several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Ann, sister Margaret, and his wife Janet Reiling.