Mark Andrew Buenzow

Mark Andrew Buenzow, 54, of Erie, CO died peacefully at Intermountain Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Lafayette, CO after a brief hospitalization on January 23, 2024. He maintained his indomitable spirit and love of those most important to him and his beloved Kansas City Chiefs until he was finally released from his bodily suffering. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to either the American Lung Association or American Heart Association.

He was born in Waverly, IA in 1969 to Gloria (Casper) and Kenneth Buenzow, who introduced him to the joys of being in the kitchen, as well as a life-long ethos of self-reliance and hard work. Some of his fondest memories were of working in their large garden with his sisters on the farm outside of Shell Rock, fishing on the Shell Rock River, and working with his father on the farm. He attended Waverly-Shell Rock High School before studying hospitality management along with his sister Jessica at Southeastern Academy in Kissimmee, Florida. Upon completion of his studies, he embarked on a career in hospitality starting in Des Moines that spanned over 30 years across multiple states.

He began his career as a phone operator and front desk clerk in Des Moines, eventually working his way up to General Manager roles across Comfort Inn and Hampton Inn properties in the Twin Cities metro area and Denver. He was passionate about helping people, whether it be a guest or employee, and providing the best experience possible. He was known for going the extra mile for guests, such as clearing snow off cars (usually enlisting the resident maintenance employee) and bringing warm cars up to the front door. Over the years, he made several good friends with recurring guests who played a role in the growth of his faith life and his love of all thing’s car. He was also known for advocating for his employees, and providing a helping hand whenever he could. He inspired fierce loyalty among long-term employees, and was characterized as demanding the best from them, but always made sure that his employees were taken care of. He was also recognized for his excellence, being awarded the Central Region Hotel of the Year, J.D. Power Guest Satisfaction award, Champion Award, and President’s award from Tharaldson Hospitality and Aimbridge Hospitality.

Mark met the love of his life, Jennifer (Wilke) in 1996 in Des Moines when he was a Front Desk Manager interviewing a potential front desk clerk at the Holiday Inn Merle Hay. While she made a good impression with the hiring GM, Mark wasn’t convinced. He was told to hire her, took her out on their first date that she didn’t realize was their first date, and subsequently proposed to her five months later. After their engagement, they moved to hotels in Iowa, Missouri, and Colorado in support of Mark’s role as a traveling interim AGM with Noble Hospitality. Excited to start their new lives together, the two were married October 17, 1998 in the chapel at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul MN. They settled in Burnsville, MN after their marriage, eventually spending the next several years in Lakeville, MN on Italy Avenue, where he and other neighbors provided impressive Fourth of July fireworks shows, shared snow removal duties, and raced lawnmowers, growing friendships that endured long after their move to Colorado in 2012.

Mark and Jennifer couldn’t wait to start a family of their own, and his children meant the world to him. After battling infertility together, they joyfully welcomed their son Campbell in 2005, and daughter Annabeth in 2007. Mark was known to spend weekend afternoons with them at the discount movies in Woodbury, picking them up from daycare, and indoctrinating them into all things RUSH and 70s and 80’s rock. He was the brave soul who taught both children how to drive and how to change their oil and tires. Even after he was no longer able to actively work on their cars, he would help them to figure out the problem, became a parts manager extraordinaire, and provide guidance on how to do things. As with all things with teenagers, it wasn’t always calm and quiet, but he wanted to provide his children with the skills to take care of themselves and to share in things that he loved to do.

Mark always had a soft spot for his furry friends, treating each and every one like the valuable family member they were. He loved yellow labrador retrievers, and his girl Sunny was no exception. He made a point to tell her how pretty she was every day and expected everyone else in the house to do the same. She adored him as well, lavishing him with kisses and shedding over everything. He also had a soft spot for dogs who needed a good home, bringing in Merlin, Chief, and Max over the past several years. He had grown up with several dogs on the farm, and his love of them continued throughout his life. He was also a covert cat lover, who would protest each time a child or wife would bring a cat home but would inevitably end up with that same cat curled up on his lap a relatively short amount of time later.

Mark built enduring friendships throughout his life. He had friends from his early days in Des Moines that were with him for the rest of his life. His tendency to provide help and support to just about anyone in need garnered him a wide network of friends from a variety of backgrounds. Whether it be golfing or working on the timing for an old car, he always kept his friends in his thoughts. He loved nothing better than a beverage and an afternoon to while away talking and sharing an activity. He strongly valued those relationships that endured and would happily drop everything if someone needed him.

Mark was an active member of the northern Denver Volvo community, participating in various Volvo drives to different locations throughout Colorado. He enjoyed trading insights and stories with other members and was pleased to be an honorary member of the Volvo “R” groups. While in Minnesota, he was an active member of the New Market-Elko Lions club, serving as an officer and acting as a transporter for the cornea transplant program. As was fitting, he donated his corneas to the Northern Colorado Lions Eye Bank upon his death.

Everyone who knew Mark knew how much he loved being a member of Mile High Karate. He obtained the rank of second-degree black belt in American Tae Kwon Do in 2020. Over the course of testing for his second-degree, he pushed himself through what was later diagnosed as heart failure in Estes Park and tested for his certified second-degree trailing his oxygen behind him by ZOOM in his living room during the Covid lockdown. All of this was done with his signature determination and single-minded focus. He was never one to let injury deter him but would merely alter his path to adapt. He was known throughout the school as one who was constantly encouraging other students and providing an example of what can be done with enough black belt attitude. He was never entirely comfortable with being called an inspiration, but he was seen that way by other students, his instructors, and parents. He was seen as a karate “dad” by some students, which he saw as an honor. When injury prevented him from actively teaching on the floor, he could be found behind the desk managing underbelt awards and anything else that needed to be done. He found it very difficult to step away when his health prevented him from training in the way that he felt honored the discipline and himself. However, he would still make “guest appearances” during Prep Cycle classes being taught by Jennifer and Campbell, and never failed to make an impression on those students who had never been on the floor with him. He was also a strong supporter of the MHK Ambassador Team, of which Campbell was a member, always remembering to bring donuts to the early Saturday morning practices and acting as a chaperone when the team traveled to national competitions.

Mark was also known for his love of old cars, and his love of his 1951 Chevrolet Fleetline. He and Jennifer spent many weekend mornings attending car shows, sometimes bringing along Sunny or Max. Many weekends were spent in the driveway with Campbell and friends upgrading systems, finding the perfect timing, and all of the other things that went with owning a classic car. He was also known for driving the car to work weather permitting, proudly parking it in front of the hotel and taking time for anyone that wanted to talk about it and share their own stories about their cars. It was yet another way that he sought and found connection with people.

Mark will always be remembered for his caring and enthusiasm and the way that he was always willing to give whatever had to help someone. His determination and drive made him a force of nature. He will also be remembered for his deep love of his family. We’ll always imagine hearing him say “Go CHIEFS!!” one more time. We couldn’t have asked for a better husband, dad, brother, and friend and will miss Mark every day. His memory will live on in the hearts of all those who loved him and were touched by his light.

Mark was preceded in death by his father Kenneth, and is survived by his wife Jennifer, children Campbell and Annabeth, his mother Gloria, sisters Jessica and Rebecca, and half siblings Kenneth and Robert, along with several nieces and nephews.

The visitation will be on Friday, February 2 from 9-11 am at Crist Mortuary located at 3395 Penrose Place, Boulder, CO with a service immediately following. Interment will be at Mountain View Cemetery, 3016 Kalmia Avenue, Boulder CO following the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations to either the American Lung Association or American Heart Association would be greatly appreciated.

Serving as pallbearers are Christopher Johnston, Alan Hatch, Ryan Matlock, John Lyon, John Perrot and BJ Burton.