Mark C. Steine, MD, 78, passed away May 25, 2023. A memorial service will be held at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 8300 "C" Avenue, Marion, Iowa on Saturday, July 22, 2023, with visitation beginning at 1:00 pm, and the service at 2:00 pm.
“A livestream of the funeral service may be accessed on the St. Mark’s Lutheran website
https://www.stmarkscr.org/ starting at 2:00 pm on Saturday July 22, 2023.”
Surviving him are his wife of 56 years, Roxann, his daughter, Sarah (Paul) Gostonczik, son, Hans (Jessica) Steine, and grandchildren, Meg (Drew) Proksa, Emma Gostonczik, Henry, Gwen, Hunter, and Holden Steine, two sisters-in-law, VaLois (Orlin) Mandsager, Diane (Larry) Grimstad, three nephews, seven nieces, and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Alice (Lubke) Steine, and sister, Carol Fritz.
After graduating from Decorah High School, Mark received both BS and MD degrees from The University of Iowa. He served in the Army Reserves for six years in the 1970s. Mark practiced family medicine, including delivering hundreds of babies in Osage, Iowa from 1971-1989. He completed a residency in anesthesiology at The University of Iowa in 1991. Dr. Steine then practiced anesthesia for 18 years at both Mercy and St. Luke’s Hospitals and the Surgery Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. His colleagues appreciated his calm control of the operating suite, skillfully providing excellent anesthesia care for his patients.
Mark was baptized, confirmed, and married at First Lutheran Church in Decorah. He became a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Osage, and later St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Marion.
Mark lived life to the fullest and had many hobbies, some of which terrified his wife due to the inherent dangers involved with speed (motorcycle and car racing) and altitude (flying single & twin-engine airplanes). He attended Skip Barber (car), Road America (motorcycle) racing schools, enjoyed cross country motorcycle rides with his son, Hans, and bicycling with his daughter, Sarah. Mark and Roxann enjoyed time in Naples, Florida when he retired. The whole family would join them over spring break. Mark was proud to backpack the Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming with Hans and Henry, making it a 3-generation trip. In 1982, his uncanny ability to remain calm under pressure allowed him to successfully land his single engine Cessna 210 after the engine failed, saving his family. His love of national parks, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, and nature inspired many trips.
Family and colleagues loved Mark’s eclectic selection of music and humor. He helped teach Hans, Sarah and his two oldest grandchildren to drive, “not like a sissy, but fast,” and to “hit the gas through curves.” Complaining wasn’t tolerated or we heard, “Shut up, ya whiner.” He prized family conversations, and could be heard saying, “Put that phone away or I’ll take it out front and run it over with my car.”
He taught his kids to work hard, study hard, and play hard. He will be greatly missed.
Memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association, Salvation Army, or Cedar Valley Nature Trail.