Mark Jeske

Mark Jeske, age 58, lifelong resident of the New Providence community, passed away unexpectedly on the morning of Thursday, April 12th, at his home.             Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Tuesday, April 17th, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Eldora with Pastor David Splett officiating. He will be laid to rest in the New Providence Cemetery with a procession led by his comrades and contemporaries in fire and emergency service. Visitation will be held on Monday from 5-8:00 p.m. on the lower level of the church with the family present and under the watchful eye and respect of the Firemen’s Honor Guard. Friends and family are requested to dress casual in honor of Mark, and to wear Dave’s Wrecker shirts if you have one. Memorials may be directed to the family, Troop 334 Boy Scouts, New Providence Fire Department or the Good Shephard Preschool. The Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown is caring for Mark and his family. Ph. 641-844-1234.           Mark was born on February 27th, 1960, in Eldora, to Larry K. and Ruth (Chrisman) Jeske. After the sudden passing of his dad at a very young age, Mark was blessed with his mom marrying Gary Walters, who faithfully took the role of being his dad. Mark graduated from the New Providence High School in 1978 and later attended Iowa State University.             On November 2nd, 1985, he was united in marriage to the love of his life, Debra Moore, in New Providence. They farmed near New Providence all of their married lives.             Mark balanced many different hats in his daily life- husband, dad, grandpa, farmers, EMT, neighbor, man of God and friend. Since the age of 18, he worked for Dave Gunderson in Union as heavy duty wrecker driver and technician, a job he loved. He was a born farmer and was instrumental in providing EMS care for the New Providence community. He joined the New Providence Fire Department in 1995 and has served honorably as Fire Chief since 2000 (Chief #580) and had been a member of the Sheriff’s Emergency Rescue Squad. A role he so proudly took was “adopted dad” to all the neighbor kids who often called him in early morning hours to pull their car out, come get them somewhere or play mechanic- which he did without hesitation.             Boy Scouts were a foundation in his life and one he carried on through adulthood as scoutmaster and assistant scoutmaster. He received his Eagle Scout in 1976 in Eldora Troop 334 and later alongside his son- the Brotherhood level Order of the Arrow. Mark was also a member of the FFA (receiving the Iowa Farmer Degree) and a faithful member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Eldora. He was baptized at the church and later confirmed into the Lutheran Faith on April 7th, 1974.             Left to cherish his memory are Deb, his loving wife of 32 years; his son Travis (Branigan) Jeske of New Providence and their daughter Jensen and son Walter who is due in June; his dad Gary Walters, sister Dawn Fratzke, the Frank H. Moore family, several nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, several members of the Walter’s family and “adopted” kids. Also surviving is his extended family at the fire department, rescue squads, Boy Scouts and sheriff’s departments in the area.             In death, Mark rejoined his mom Ruth, father Larry, uncle Al Chrisman and brother-in-law Rocky Fratzke.