Mark passed away surrounded by his loving family after waging a courageous battle against Stage 4 liver cancer. He was a teacher and administrator who retired from Milwaukee Public Schools and enjoyed his monthly luncheons with fellow MPS retirees. A dedicated father and grandfather, he collected coins, enjoyed making home improvements that were fueled by his admiration of Frank Lloyd Wright, read history books constantly, loved going on cruises, and had a healthy obsession with baked goods. He took after his father when it came to the Green Bay Packers; he loved them so much, he couldn’t stand to watch them. A visit to Kenosha wasn’t complete without getting a burger from The Spot and then picking up pizzas at Villa D’Carlo (the only pizza he truly loved).
During his retirement, he was a shuttle bus driver for Saz’s Statehouse and worked part-time at Michael’s as a picture framer, where he was praised constantly for having a good eye for color coordination and frames. It was a true passion that made his retirement a bit more enjoyable. Mark was an alumnus of Tremper High School in Kenosha, Northwestern University, Marquette Law School, and Cardinal Stritch.
Mark was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to Raymond and Mary Lee Fennema, brother to Sandra, Paul, James, and Thomas. Father to Gretchen, Joshua, Kyle, and Maria (Flores) and grandfather to Raymond. He was preceded in death by his parents and longtime partner, Travis Robinson.
Mark Fennema will be remembered for his generosity, friendship, love, and his endearing wit.
Any donations can be made to the Mark Fennema GoFundMe link at: gofund.me/75cc723b1.
All proceeds go towards finalizing any estate needs, not covered by the Trust, as well as a memorial that will be scheduled this Summer.
