Mark Steven lago

Mark Steven Lago
Mark Steven Lago was born on November 6, 1952, in Worthington, Minnesota, to Darrel and Shirley Lago. He grew up on the family farm in rural Ocheyedan, Iowa, alongside his older brother Paul and sister Becky. A few years later, the family was completed with the arrival of his little sister, Kim. Those early years shaped Mark’s steady work ethic, curiosity, and deep love for family that would define his life.

Mark graduated from Ocheyedan High School in 1972. A serious and thoughtful student, he especially excelled in history. Determined to put himself through college, he worked at Turner’s Red Owl, learning the value of hard work and independence.
He began college at the University of Northern Iowa in the fall of 1970. During this time, Mark made a life-changing decision to receive Jesus as his Savior — a faith that guided him throughout his life. He graduated in 1974 with a teaching degree and soon began what would become a lifelong calling as an educator.

Mark first taught at Oak Grove Baptist, a small Christian school in Kansas City before moving to Des Moines to teach at Grandview Christian School. After his time there, he spent a year in Mississippi with his brother’s family while earning his master’s degree at the University of Mississippi. He later moved to Kokomo, Indiana, where he continued teaching while attending Purdue University.
In 1991, Mark settled in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he began teaching at Hartley Elementary and later Clinton Elementary. He faithfully served the students of Lincoln Public Schools for nearly three decades, retiring in 2020. Teaching was more than a job for Mark — it was a ministry. He cared deeply for his students and found joy in encouraging their growth, both in and out of the classroom.

Mark was a man of wide-ranging interests and endless curiosity. He loved to travel and experience new cultures, foods, and people. Although he often traveled alone, he rarely stayed that way for long. As he liked to say, he had “one of those faces” that invited conversation. Among his many adventures, some of his favorites included watching The Nutcracker in St. Petersburg, Russia, and riding a camel up Mount Sinai in Egypt. His travels also took him to Iceland, England, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, France, Italy, and many other places.

He had a deep love for art and found great joy in visiting museums both near and far. His home reflected that passion — walls covered with posters and photographs, and every surface filled with statues, keepsakes, and treasures collected over the years. While he admired the masters, he equally cherished the artwork of friends, students, and the photographs he captured himself.

Mark was head over heels for his beloved miniature schnauzers — Pippin, Krasner, and Kahlo — each of whom brought him immense joy and companionship. Many photos show Mark and one of his dogs posing proudly at famous landmarks, often next to a historic tombstone.

A devoted sports fan, Mark especially loved college wrestling and was a faithful supporter of the Iowa Hawkeyes, proudly holding season tickets (and the socks to prove it). He also enjoyed watching tennis, football, and volleyball.

Above all, Mark loved his family. He was a dedicated and enthusiastic uncle to his many nieces and nephews, joking that he was an “above-average dedicated uncle.” He had a special gift for connecting with each of them personally and took genuine interest in their lives, activities, and dreams.

After a courageous battle with multiple myeloma, Mark passed away on February 12, 2026, in Lincoln, Nebraska.
He is survived by his brother Paul Lago (Barb), sisters Becky Boersma (Darold), and Kim Schmidt (Bill) and many devoted nieces and nephews as well as many great nieces and nephews, and friends Ken and Trish Hoppmann who went above and beyond for Mark. He was preceded in death by his parents, Darrel and Shirley Lago, and his nephew, Joel Boersma.

Mark was both interested and interesting — someone who knew a little about a lot of things and could talk with anyone. He loved to laugh, appreciated a good joke, and delighted in a well-crafted revenge story. One of a kind, he will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him