Obituary for Mark K. Fitting
Mark K. Fitting, 57, of
Ironwood, Mich., owner of the Hobby Wheel on Cloverland Drive in Ironwood, died
unexpectedly Friday, July 22, 2011, at Howard Young Medical Center in
Woodruff, of an apparent heart attack while bicycling in the St. Germain
area. Mark was born March 8, 1954, in LaCrosse,
Wis., to Leslie and the late Donald Fitting. He attended school in Onalaska and
graduated from Dakota High School in Arthur N.D. in 1972. He then served in the
U.S. Navy stationed in San Diego, Calif. from 1974-1976. During that time, he
married Sandra in 1974 in Arthur. Following his discharge, they moved to
Ironwood where Mark attended the Ski Area Management program at Gogebic
Community College. Mark and Sandra had two sons, Eric and Ross, and later
divorced. He worked at Blackjack Ski Resort for
several years and later puchased the Hobby Wheel, operating it up until the time
of his death. Mark loved pheasant and deer hunting,
bicycling, riding his Harley, and spending time at his newly purchased dream
home on Big St. Germain Lake in St. Germain that he shared with Joan Levra. He
also started the Superior Snowshoe group this past winter that proved highly
successful, having 160 members. He was a man who lived every day of his life to
the fullest. He was full of life and fun, and was an electric presence in a
room. He never met a stranger. Surviving are two sons, Eric, Ironwood, and
Ross, Arlington, Va.; his mother and father, Leslie and John Guthrey, Fargo,
N.D.; brother, Matt, Rapid City, S.D.; sister, Molly Guthrey, St. Paul,
Minn.; his beloved partner in everything, Joan; step-children, Jayme and Cody
Reynolds; a special cousin, Karen Julesberg, Madison; and several nieces and
nephews and many close friends too numerous to mention. Besides his father, Donald, he was preceded in
death by a daughter Dana at birth. Out of respect for Mark's wishes, cremation
has taken place. A memorial service will be held Wednesday,
July 27, at 3 p.m., at Salem Lutheran Church in Ironwood, with the Rev. Peggy
Rose officiating. Full military honors will be accorded by the
Ironwood American Legion Post 5 Honor Guard. Relatives and
friends may call at the church from 1 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to
the Mount Zion Ski Racing Club. To view Mark's obituary online, sign his
guestbook or express condolences, visit
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.
Ironwood, Mich., owner of the Hobby Wheel on Cloverland Drive in Ironwood, died
unexpectedly Friday, July 22, 2011, at Howard Young Medical Center in
Woodruff, of an apparent heart attack while bicycling in the St. Germain
area. Mark was born March 8, 1954, in LaCrosse,
Wis., to Leslie and the late Donald Fitting. He attended school in Onalaska and
graduated from Dakota High School in Arthur N.D. in 1972. He then served in the
U.S. Navy stationed in San Diego, Calif. from 1974-1976. During that time, he
married Sandra in 1974 in Arthur. Following his discharge, they moved to
Ironwood where Mark attended the Ski Area Management program at Gogebic
Community College. Mark and Sandra had two sons, Eric and Ross, and later
divorced. He worked at Blackjack Ski Resort for
several years and later puchased the Hobby Wheel, operating it up until the time
of his death. Mark loved pheasant and deer hunting,
bicycling, riding his Harley, and spending time at his newly purchased dream
home on Big St. Germain Lake in St. Germain that he shared with Joan Levra. He
also started the Superior Snowshoe group this past winter that proved highly
successful, having 160 members. He was a man who lived every day of his life to
the fullest. He was full of life and fun, and was an electric presence in a
room. He never met a stranger. Surviving are two sons, Eric, Ironwood, and
Ross, Arlington, Va.; his mother and father, Leslie and John Guthrey, Fargo,
N.D.; brother, Matt, Rapid City, S.D.; sister, Molly Guthrey, St. Paul,
Minn.; his beloved partner in everything, Joan; step-children, Jayme and Cody
Reynolds; a special cousin, Karen Julesberg, Madison; and several nieces and
nephews and many close friends too numerous to mention. Besides his father, Donald, he was preceded in
death by a daughter Dana at birth. Out of respect for Mark's wishes, cremation
has taken place. A memorial service will be held Wednesday,
July 27, at 3 p.m., at Salem Lutheran Church in Ironwood, with the Rev. Peggy
Rose officiating. Full military honors will be accorded by the
Ironwood American Legion Post 5 Honor Guard. Relatives and
friends may call at the church from 1 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to
the Mount Zion Ski Racing Club. To view Mark's obituary online, sign his
guestbook or express condolences, visit
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.