Lynn Arthur Mark

He was born at the family farmhouse near Paradise, Kansas. The third of four boys born to Maurice and Zelpha Benfield-Mark. His mother was the classic homemaker. His father was a depot agent for the Rock Island railroad until laid off due to depression conditions. His father moved on to wheat farming until the dust bowl of the dirty thirties wiped out his crops. Working as a wagon winder for a dollar a day, then five dollars a week for a dairy kept the family afloat.

Near the end of the 1930’s the Mark family patriarch was offered the opportunity to work for Union Pacific also as a depot agent. The family moved to the outskirts of De Soto, IA where Lynn started 1st grade at the Yale country school, taught by an East Peru product Lucille McKeaver. Lynn identified Miss McKeaver as his favorite all schools teacher. In 1942 the Mark family moved again. This time to Stuart, IA where Lynn’s dad worked for the Rock Island Railroad. Lynn and his two older brothers Gene and Dale along with younger brother Mike attended “town” school in Stuart. Following railroading opportunities, Lynn’s dad moved the family to Winterset, IA, 304 W. South Street, during the summer just before Lynn’s sophomore year. Football was Lynn’s forte; high school was just the facilitator. Additionally, Lynn and his best buddy, Jim Hylton, took Winterset High School dramatics to another level. Lynn worked at Hawkeye Lumber Company during his senior year to get credit for merchandising class.

Immediately after graduation and before being drafted into the Army in February 1953, he continued to work at Hawkeye during the day and evenings at Johnny Welch Texaco. The Army kept Lynn stateside for the duration of his tour. First at Fort Chaffey, Arkansas and then his terminal assignment at Fort Bliss Texas. His specialties were artillery fire detection and launching anti-aircraft guided missiles. While on leave from the Army, Lynn met Marilyn Songer, a girl from Winterset, at the Winterset skating rink. They were married in June of 1953 at the Methodist Church in Winterset IA. To this marriage three daughters were born, Mary, Cheryl and Nancy. Following his discharge from the Army, Lynn supported his growing family by working at a dairy (LeCocq) near Winterset, as a hired hand for a farmer near Dallas Center, and wrangler at a large cattle and sheep operation near Coon Rapids, Iowa.

In 1959 Lynn and his family moved to Pueblo, Colorado where his older brother was living, Lynn drove a city bus, supplemented with temporary jobs, for 3 years. For 12 years he drove for Pueblo-based Railway Express. In 1966 Lynn and Marilyn dissolved their marriage. In 1967 Lynn met a new love, Mabel Boyles, again at a skating rink but this time in Pueblo, Colorado. They were married in August of 1967 at the Methodist Church in Pueblo. Mabel brought into the new Mark family 3 boys and 1 girl. Lynn and Mabel moved to Golden, Colorado in 1976 after Lynn found work as an in-plant truck driver for Coors. He drove for Coors until his retirement in 1998. Following retirement, Lynn and Mabel built a house just east of Colorado City, Colorado, overlooking a valley with the Rockies as a background 20 miles away. They enjoyed 10 retirement years together until Mabel succumbed to dementia in 2008. They had spent almost 40 loving years together. Lynn continues to live in their retirement home which now includes a granddaughter and her family including 2 great-grandchildren. All three of Lynn’s daughters currently live in Colorado. He proudly spoke of his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

He was proud that his first car was a 1937 Chevrolet Coupe his grandfather purchased in 1951 for $300. Lynn was an avid Pinochle player on Tuesday and Thursday with his friends in Colorado City; sometimes mornings AND afternoons. He was never much for music, but a favorite pastime was working crossword puzzles. Watching NFL football was also must for him and anyone around during the season.

You know what tops his bucket list? Living to be 100. He really tried!

Little known facts about Lynn Mark: (1) One of his first memories is of his dad hauling water to their house in 5-gallon cream cans. (2) In high school he could throw a football 65 yards. (3) The Army was going to make him a Drill Sergeant if he would reenlist. (4) He thought nothing was as dumb as sheep. (5) He once lived in a house that provided a tunnel for the Underground Railroad. (6) His wife, Mabel, once worked as a 7-Up bottling inspector.

Visitation will be held at T.G. McCarthy Funeral Home from 12-1pm on Friday, August 7th.

Funeral Service will immediately follow at 1pm.