Mark Weaver

Mark Weaver, 68, passed away unexpectedly on March 20, 2021 at home. It was Mark’s express wish that no services be held and that his ashes be scattered over his beloved mountains of Colorado and Alaska. His death followed a long, courageous, hard-fought, five year battle with multiple, complicated health issues.   Donald “Mark” Weaver was born November 15, 1952 in Marshalltown to Bernard and Elva (Clark) Weaver. He grew up in Marshalltown where he excelled at sports from an early age. He loved competition and brought his best to the football and baseball fields, the track and the wrestling mat. He graduated with the MHS Class of 1971. He was a four-sport letter winner and was the recipient of the prestigious Nick Norris Award as the outstanding Bobcat football player his senior year. He was also honored to be voted to multiple All-State teams. After graduation he said he wanted nothing more to do with formal education so he began his working career with his dad at Iowa Step and Tank and later, for many years, at Hartwig Plumbing.   In 1981 he and his younger brother packed their two dogs and their belongings and headed to Colorado to take on city life at the foot of the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Mark worked in plumbing, construction and carpentry and retired as a Construction Site Superintendent. He loved working with his hands and found satisfaction in a job well done and a clean, neat worksite. He took pride in his ability to imagine innovative solutions to construction problems and had great respect for the various trades he worked with.   In 2001 he was reunited with his old friend since junior high school, Julie Kruse Brewer, and they lived in Colorado until returning to Marshalltown in 2006.   Before his health declined, his interests included traveling, creating intricate bead-work, working with leather, designing and creating stone oil lamps from rocks collected on their many travels through the southwest and Canada, listening to classic rock, white water rafting, cultivating healthy indoor plants, spending time driving through the mountains and playing and coaching slow-pitch softball and volleyball.   Mark held a deep respect for Native American music, history and culture and especially identified with a love of the earth and all of nature. He was a simple man with simple dreams and loyal to a fault.   After he and his wife, Julie, returned to Marshalltown in 2006, he took up bird watching and spent hours educating himself on the best diets for each species and how to attract them to his backyard feeders. He had a deep affinity with the bald eagle and always dreamed of soaring on wind currents like the eagles do.   As his health declined his activities were more limited. He was a life-long fan of the Yankees and the Raiders and rooted for both the Hawkeyes and the Cyclones. He never missed an episode of The Price is Right, Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune and usually did better than the contestants.   However, he found his greatest joy in his role as Grandpa, which first became a reality in 2013 and again in 2015. Many miles were put on the car going back and forth to Colorado to see the grandsons and revisit his favorite mountain spots. He often said he felt an actual physical uplifting in his chest when the mountains came into view.   Mark is survived by his loving wife, Julie Kruse Brewer, of Marshalltown; Stepson Matt Brewer (Lindsay) and grandsons Zachary and Jack of Centennial, Colorado; Mother Elva Weaver of Marshalltown; Brothers Clark (Mary) Weaver of Marion and Griff (Chris) Weaver of Arvada, Colorado; Father-in-law Dr. Rufus Kruse, Marshalltown; Special cousin Greg (Cinda) Morey of Marshalltown; Aunts Arvonne Binkerd of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Ethel (Leon) Smeaton of Sun City, Arizona; Nephew Cam (Nicole) Weaver of Minneapolis and Niece Jessica Weaver of Greeley, Colorado as well as many cousins, great nieces and cherished, life-long friends.   He was preceded in death by his grandparents: Harold and Theo Clark and Donald and Mildred Weaver; father Bernard; Niece Allison Weaver; Aunts Maxine (Joe) Weil, Betty (Bob) Kelly and Kay (Don) Haskin and too many friends, at too young an age, to name.   A special thank you to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and especially Drs. Bradley Erickson, Jennifer Hrabe, Ryan Steinberg and Kyle Brown for their expert care, support and compassionate, personal attention to Mark and Julie throughout the past few years.   Mark frequently said he hoped when he was gone that people would just remember him as being “a good guy”. He was that and so much more. Mark finally gets to soar on the wings of his beloved eagles over the mountains and prairies that he loved.   Memorials in his memory may be made to the family, a mental health or suicide prevention organization, cancer research or the charity of your choice.      Mitchell Family Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of Mark and his family. For questions or to leave a condolence, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.