Mark Becker

Mark M. Becker, 88, of Fort Dodge, passed away on Thursday, May 26, 2022 at the Marian Home. Funeral Monday June 6th at 10:30 AM Holy Trinity Church, Burial will follow at Corpus Christi Cemetery with Military Rites conducted by the V.F.W. Post 1856 and the U.S. Army Honor Guard. Visitation will be on Sunday from 2:00 to 5:00 PM with a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 2:00 PM, all at Laufersweiler Funeral Home. Mark Mathew Becker was born May 5,1934 in Burt, Iowa to Mathew and Justine (Bormann) Becker. He was the seventh of their 14 children and the first to be born in the hospital. He attended school locally for several years and then was sent to Conception Abbey, a Benedictine monastery for schooling under the supervision of his uncle, Fr Luke Becker. He then attended St. Lawrence Seminary HS in Mt. Calvary, WI followed by the pre-seminary program at Loras College in Dubuque, IA graduating in 1955. Mark served in the US Army for two years following college. His first job as a teacher/coach was in Stacyville, IA for three years. During this time he met his future wife, Mary Jo Schmidt. They married July 15, 1961. Mark then attended the University of Colorado Boulder for his master's degree in Counseling. He then was recalled into the army for the Berlin crises. He then worked in counseling at Turkey Valley HS in Iowa and Brodhead HS in Wisconsin. Following his certification in administration he served as a dean of students/assistant principal at Dubuque Sr. HS and also at Hempstead HS. His last three positions were as principal at Greene Jr-Sr HS, Westwood HS, and at Stuart/Menlo HS concluding his long career in education. Mark enjoyed many sports over the years including basketball, bowling, and golf in his later years. He was also a sought after fast-pitch softball pitcher for 18 years, often pitching for multiple teams. He drove school bus for many years after retiring, enjoyed woodworking and building forts and other projects for his family. Mark battled dementia for many years and entered the Marian Home at Thanksgiving of 2019, where he received excellent care. Mark was quite a character and he will be missed dearly by his family and friends. He died on May 26, 2022 at the age of 88. He is survived by his wife Mary of 60 years and his two daughters Susan (James) Turek of Ft Dodge, IA and Colleen (Sue Johnson) Becker of Brownsville, OR. He is also survived by four grandchildren Joseph (Nura) Turek, Matthew (Theresa) Turek , Michael (Aly) Turek, Justin Fisher and one great grandchild, Etta Marie Turek (Matt and Theresa). Also surviving are siblings Rosemary Vaske (Alan-dec), Betty Berte (Vernon), Robert (Mary Carol) Patricia Baumann (Patrick-dec), Marge Brcka (Ray-dec), Joyce Wagner (Lee-dec), Jane Potthoff (Donnie) and many other nieces and nephews. Mark was preceded in death by his parents, his infant daughter Elizabeth Blanchette and infant son Mathew Joseph and brothers Frank (Mary-dec), Alvin (Marge-dec) and Harold (Therese) and sisters Delores Augustine (Greg-dec), Lorene Kollasch (Arnie-dec), and Norma Reding (Don-dec). In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left to the discretion of the family. Visitation Sun, Jun 5, 2022 at 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home 307 South 12th Street Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501 Rosary Sun, Jun 5, 2022 at 2:00 pm - 2:15 pm Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home 307 South 12th Street Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501 Funeral Mass Mon, Jun 6, 2022 at 10:30 am Holy Trinity Church 2501 6th Avenue North Fort Dodge, IA 50501