Mark Joseph Schachtner

FOREST CITY - Mark Joseph Schachtner, 46 of Forest City, lovingly surrounded by his family died Tuesday (October 27, 2009) at the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City from complications during his recent, vigilant fight against cancer after some 22 years of remission.



Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, October 31, 2009 at St. James Catholic Church in Forest City with Fr. Henry Huber officiating.



Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 PM on Friday, October 30th at the funeral home with a Scripture Service to begin at 7:45 PM.



Burial will be at a later date.





Mark was born on December 23rd, 1962 in Lake City to Gerald A. and Helen J. (Hartwig) Schachtner. He was a 1981 graduate of Humboldt High School. In 1984, while working & attending Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa; he was diagnosed with Hodgkinís disease. Over the next 3 years, he fought through radiation and chemotherapy but would ultimately need a bone marrow transplant in 1987 to win that battle. Through strong determination & will, he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Education & Technology from Iowa State University in 1990. In August of that year, Mark excitingly moved to the Forest City area & began his career at Winnebago Industries where he has lived his dream for 19 years and proudly held the title of ìProduct Design Engineerî at the end. On July 31st, 1993, after many years of friendship & romance together, Mark married his bride, Pauline L. Rivard of Somerset, WI; daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (Raboin) Rivard. Desiring a family they became foster parents and eventually adopted Allison in 2001 at the age of 11 and Zakary in 2003 at the age of 3. Throughout the years, Mark amazingly continued to endure & overcome health issues: i.e. deteriorated liver functions, heart disease & valve damage, fifthís disease. In 2003, with kidney failure & dialysis imminent, Markís sister, Grace Scholl donated her kidney for an organ transplant, which gave Mark another 6 years with us.



Strongly involved in his community and church, he was a 4th degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus. He currently was a vice chair on the St. James Church Council. Mark also actively participated in the Winnebago Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Pack #98 with his son, Zakary. He filled his time with family & friends enjoying activities such as: car racing/mechanic, hunting, fishing, camping, boating, listening to music & watching movies, playing 500 cards.



Mark is survived by his wife, Pauline; children, Allison and Zakary; his parents, Gerald and Helen Schachtner of Humboldt; brothers, Mike (DeDe Merris) Schachtner and Allan (Tonya) Schachtner both of Humboldt; sisters, Brenda (PJay) Rivard of Somerset, WI and Grace (Dan) Scholl of Humboldt; parents-in-law, Richard & Elizabeth Rivard of Somerset, WI, his brothers & sisters-in-law, Pete (Terri) Rivard, Patty (Joe) Schachtner, Joe Rivard, Pam (Joe) Ince and Price (Tiffany) Rivard; many dear nieces, nephews; and godchildren, family & friends.



Mark was preceded in death by his sister, Mary; his grandparents, Alois and Margaret Schachtner and William and Meta Hartwig; and other special family members & friends.