FELLOM, Mark Edward 1946 - 2017

FELLOM, COZIAH, BECK

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 12/6/2017 at 12:06:26

Mark Edward Fellom, 70, of Mason City, IA, passed away on Friday, April 7, 2017, at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Thursday (April 13, 2017) at Grace United Methodist Church, 200 14th St. N.W., Mason City, with the Rev. Steve Hanson officiating.

Inurnment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, with military honors provided by the Mason City veterans.

Visitation will be held from 5 until 7 p.m. Wednesday (April 12, 2017) at Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St. N.E., Mason City, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Humane Society of North Iowa, 2700 S. Birch Drive, Mason City, IA 50401, or the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123.

Born on Oct. 15, 1946, in Mason City, IA, to Darrell E and Harriet L (Coziah) Fellom, he was their eldest son having a younger brother, David.

He graduated from Mason City High School in 1965. On April 3, 1971, he married Joan Beck in Waterloo, IA. Two sons were born to this union Garrett Edward (Gary) and Craig Joseph.

Mark was a career military man, entering the Marine Corps after graduation in 1965 and serving during the Vietnam conflict.

Mark was part of the Second Battalion 3rd Marines and did his training in San Diego, California, before going to Da Nang. In October 1969, the battalion relocated to MCB Camp Pendleton, California, where he was given an honorable discharge.

In 1970, he attended NIACC (where he met Joan) before rejoining the military, this time as a hospital corpsman in the Navy.

He served sea duty aboard two ships, the USS Coral Sea (CV-43) as a part of a squadron stationed at NAS Lemoore, CA, and the USS Nicholson (DD982), LANTFLT Charleston, SC, as part of a battle group in the Mediterranean Sea.

He was also stationed in Milwaukee, WI; Portsmouth, VA; Subic Bay, Philippines; Long Beach, CA; Norfolk, VA and the Naval Reserve Center in Everett, WA, where he retired from the Navy in 1985.

He worked for a time at Blue Cross Blue Shield in Everett until his oldest son graduated from high school, then returned to Mason City where he worked for Huffman Transportation, and later for Cerro Gordo Public Health.

Mark belonged to Grace United Methodist Church, and was active in Mason City youth baseball during the time his youngest son, Craig, was in school.

He loved NASCAR, football and watching old movies, especially John Wayne.

Due to his many health problems, he became permanently disabled and when his family could no longer provide for his care at home, Mark lived at the Iowa State Veteran’s Home in Marshalltown.

The highlight of his time there was when he was given an award and certificate signed by President Obama thanking him for his many years of service to his country and especially acknowledging his service in Vietnam.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 46 years, Joan; his son Gary Fellom (Rebecca and children Gabriella, Kaylum, Micayla and Peyton) of Spokane, WA Craig Fellom (Marilou) of Seattle, WA and his brother David Fellom (Rebecca) of Norfolk, VA, as well as several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Darrell, in 1962 at the age of 40 and his mother, Harriet, in 2004 at the age of 78.

Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St. N.E., Mason City. 641-423-2372. ColonialChapels.com.