Marc Jon Hogden

1949 - 2024

Marc Jon Hogden

Marc Jon Hogden passed away peacefully at his home on May 9, 2024, with his family by his side, after a brave and thoughtful struggle with cancer. He was born on August 19, 1949, to Raymond and Eleanor (Unseth) Hogden, and grew up in Westby, Wisconsin. As a boy, Marc and his friends would explore the hilly, wooded pasture behind his house (known as the "woods"), climb the apple trees across the street, and pull the rhubarb from a neighbor's patch. In the spring, he would frequently bring his mom violets from the woods.

He and his neighborhood pal, Booey, spent hours capturing bumble bees in glass jars, and never getting stung (or at least not admitting to it). His first real job was a snow-shoveling business that he started with one of his other neighborhood buddies.

Like his father, Marc was very talented with numbers. He could solve mathematical problems in his head that sent others to paper and pencil before calculators were commonplace. He was skilled at solving all kinds of puzzles and very challenging brain teasers from an early age. He graduated from Westby High School in 1967. His mathematical acumen led to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa in 1971.

Though trained in accounting, Marc's true calling was in the traditional craft of stone masonry and bricklaying, a vocation where his precision and skill were evident in every project he undertook.

When he wasn't working as a master stone mason and bricklayer, Marc spent time on his hobby farm tinkering with various projects and improvements, raising cash crops as well as flowers and vegetables. He and his partner, Cheryl, always looked forward to spring to begin planting and enjoying the flowers and vegetables.

Marc's home also became a refuge for feral cats, whom he befriended and cared for as well as one special cat named Snoopy, who decided she needed to live in the house to be closer to him.

Marc enjoyed the company of his friends: laughter and deep conversations, card games and cheering on his favorite sports teams on TV.

Marc was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his son, William Jon Hogden; his partner, Cheryl Wrobel; his sister, Linda Beth Hogden; his sister, Anola (A. J.) (Marvin) Leisso; his nephew, Jeffrey Urbanek; and great nephew, Peter Urbanek.

A special thank you to Gundersen Health System Hospice program for their caring services.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Coon Prairie Cemetery are preferred.

Marc's life was honored on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, with a visitation at 10:30 a.m. and a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. at Vosseteig Funeral Home, Westby, Wisconsin, followed by interment at Coon Prairie Cemetery. A gathering and light lunch followed at the funeral home. Online condolences may be expressed at www.vossfh.com.