After eating a second helping of tiramisu and watching the Sweden vs USA hockey game, Mark Munkittrick began to succumb to complications of cancer. He passed peacefully on Tuesday, February 18th, 2025. Mark’s wife of 47 years, Dianne Munkittrick, was at his side, as were his two children, son, Kyle Munkittrick, and daughter, Hana Cayton.

Mark was a man of the elements. He built his career in the woods with forestry and a second act career in the air with a flight school. He loved the water, be it boating on Lake Coeur d’Alene in Idaho, on Lake Marion in South Carolina, or scuba diving in the Caribbean. On 4th of July, Mark could be counted on to bring the mortar shells, launching fireworks. And in his retirement, he took up woodworking, welding, and birding.

Mark was curious, playful, and humane. He taught his children to love science, to laugh at Steve Martin and Monty Python, and to be kind. He loved playing with his grandson, Graeme Cayton. When not watching a NASCAR race, hockey, or Jeopardy!, he could be found finding a new home improvement project to tackle. He loved traveling with Dianne, including to visit their daughter Hana when she lived in Cambodia, to San Francisco to visit Kyle, and on a recent Mediterranean cruise with close friends, Barb and Gary.

Of all the stories that most typify Mark, one that stands out is when a stray cat appeared on their doorstep in Idaho. Dianne took it to the vet and discovered it was pregnant. Mark promised to ‘drown’ the kittens, only half joking, implying they didn’t need anymore pets. One day shortly thereafter, Mark had been missing for a couple hours and Dianne asked where he was. Kyle or Hana mentioned seeing him go into the shed. There, Dianne found him midwifing for the mother cat, helping her wipe the mouths and clean the new kittens as they came into this world. Two of the kittens, Mickey and Muffy, found a permanent home with the Munkittricks, the others were given to friends.

Mark is survived by his sisters Patti MacDonald, Peggy Dupras, and Kathy Bechard, as well as his son-in-law Jon Cayton and daughter-in-law, Lauren Pollini. He was delighted to get to see them and spend time with them just a few days before he passed.

Mark was a good husband, father, brother, friend, and man. We mourn his loss, and are grateful for the time, laughs, and memories we had with him. We will remember, miss, and love him always.