Mark was born on December 21, 1954 to James and Edith (Dorst) Zepplin. He passed away on Sunday, June 28, 2026 at his home with his family.
Mark graduated from DC Everest High School, and married his high school sweetheart, Robyn Elaine Evans. They were married 52 years. He enlisted in the US Air Force in 1974 and served 4 years.
Robyn and Mark were so happy to bring a baby boy in the world in 1977, (Christopher) Aaron.
Mark left the Air Force in 1978 to join an up-and-coming business with a fellow Airman and friend, Mike Knutson and his wife, Cheryl. Later in 1995 he left that business to start a creative more specialized tile/stone business. He went part time with that starting in 2020.
While in business in his younger years he helped and served as a member on the boards that started the Youth Soccer Association, The Rural Historical Society, and he served as a board member for the Waupaca Lions Club, Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce and Waupaca Conservation League.
Mark was known for his stone/tile work throughout the area and beyond. He won two National Residential Installer of the Year Awards along the way.
In his youth he restored 2 classic Jaguars and a Mustang. He was very creative with the many things he came across and could see the beauty in so many things he incorporated in his art work. He loved nature as well as the night sky and the new discoveries in science.
Mark had a great love of Montana and the little cabin and property he and Robyn shared there as well as the home they shared together for 38 years along the Crystal River in Waupaca. As you may imagine he stayed very adventurous and physically active.
Mark had many very close friends from his 2 best men, his brotherhood from the Air Force as well as his very close neighbors, both along the Crystal River and Limestone Canyon in Montana. He was blessed with the best friends ever including his donor family that saved his life in 2019 with a liver transplant.
He had a great love for his kitty cats and dogs through the years. They brought him many smiles and laughs, he loved them all dearly.
He is survived by his mom: Edith Zepplin; wife: Robyn; son: Aaron (partner, Monique Duwell and her 2 children); sisters: Kay (Charlie) Christenson; Dawn (Jay) Hahn; nephews: Cal and Eric Christenson and Dustin Hahn; niece: Stephanie Hahn; mother-in-law: Erna Evans; sisters-in-law: Kathy (Dan) Wollin, and Terry (John) Miller; brother-in-law: Rich (Jennie) Evans; Robyn’s nieces: Shayna Arndt and Amber Miller; nephews: Brad and Trent Clark, Ben and Joe Wollin; Nathan Miller and their families.
He was so close to the many friends he had, they were always more like family so they are included as survivors: Al and Kristen LaPorte, Gary and Lavonne Goytowski, Rich and Barb Hilts, Steve Bethel, Mike and Cheryl Knutson, De Kramer, Gary and Maureen Weeks and their girls, Bill and Karen Woolsey, Lee and Margret Lindeman, Bonnie Jorgenson and his donor family. Last but not least he is survived by his kitties, Sparrow “Ginger Girl”, Chuck and Lily. Mark was preceded in death by his father and father-in-law, brother-in-law, and friend, Roger Zeihen.
The Memorial Service will be on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 at 1 p.m. at the Maple Crest Funeral Home of Waupaca. The visitation will be on Tuesday at the funeral home from 11 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial with military honors will be at the Central Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in King.
The family would like to thank the nurses and staff of the 6th and 7th floor at Thedacare Appleton for their care. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to your favorite charity.
