Mark Thomas Shore

1958 - 2025

Lake Mills, WI - It is with deep regret and sadness I report that on January 13, 2025 at 7:10 in the morning Mark Thomas Shore left this world for the next. Those of you who knew and loved Mark may take comfort in knowing that he did not begin that journey alone, for he passed in the arms of his beloved "Bobbie", and so took her heart with him.



Mark was born January 4th, 1958, to Hank & Jane Shore, at Camp LeJeune, NC while Hank was stationed there for his military service following graduation from dental school. Always in a hurry, even then, Mark arrived a full month early, scaring the new mother nearly to her limits. Jane, however, had little time to dwell on Mark's untimely arrival, as the family soon relocated to the Milwaukee area and Mark was quickly joined by 2 brothers and 2 sisters, Peter, Kathy, Paul and Nancy. Mark is predeceased by both of his parents, his grandparents, Loyd and Lorretta Richmond, and Henry and Helen Shore (formerly Szujewski), as well as his youngest brother, Paul.



Mark was the living definition of a true Renaissance man. Although he initially thought his life path was meant to follow medicine, and indeed he always held a life-long interest in the medical arts, that is not where his education would ultimately lead him. He always credited the Jesuit education he received at Marquette University High School for the broad and open way of thinking he took at looking at the world and which led him to choose a Liberal Arts college later. It was also Marquette that recognized and nurtured his talent for debate, leading him and his team to victory in the National Debate Championships in Washington, D.C. Those skills ultimately stood him well when, instead of medical school, he chose law school following his liberal arts education. It was also there that he met the love of his life, Barbara, while she was manning the front desk of the library one night during the second week of his senior year. From that point on, you never had to look far to find either one, for if you saw one, the other was sure to nearby, as that night marked the beginning of their 44 year union for each of them.



Mark was not all about academia, though. He was artistic as well, being a masterful woodworker, most recently focusing on the Arts & Crafts movement, particularly in the style of Greene & Greene. He was also an accomplished pianist and vocalist (baritone), joining Barb in campus and community choruses, choirs and ensembles. After graduating Marquette University High School, Mark took some time off from school to earn the funds he knew would be needed to further his education and true to his nature, he didn't land any ordinary job, but that of a diamond buyer for a large jewelry store chain when one of the owners spotted him working at one of the flagship stores and took Mark under his tutelage. Soon, Mark was flying to Copenhagen and other far-flung areas of the world well-known in the jewelry trade on buying trips and studying gemology and jewelry design in his off hours. Not bad for a 19 year old high school graduate. But Mark felt he was destined for more and made the difficult decision to quit the jewelry business, although not entirely (much to the delight of his wife later on) and returned to school, where he ultimately was awarded a JD from the University of Wisconsin, placing second in his class. He never worked full-time for the private sector but rather chose to spend his career in public service, devoting the last 32 years of his life serving the citizens of Wisconsin working solely under the auspices of Workers' Compensation, where his in-depth knowledge of medicine, anatomy and law meshed and was greatly appreciated and put to good use by his co-workers and anyone else who had a question and needed assistance or guidance with that very unique and complex area of the law. It was during his years there that Mark met some very remarkable people whom he treasured immensely and who often made the long hours of work seem to fly by, not the least of whom was his boss, Hamdy, a man he greatly respected for not only his depth of knowledge in many and diverse fields, but for his wisdom and kindness as well. Mark's father had died at a fairly young age and Mark greatly missed that his presence in his life. However, more than once he stated that Hamdy had come to fill that void in his life, becoming a sort of surrogate father to him in all ways but blood. Mark greatly cherished their end-of-the-day conversations and hoped that Hamdy did, too. And then there were those special friendships you grow and cherish for years, in and out of the office, John, Katie, Peter, Stan, Tom, Tim, Jim really too many to name, but you all know who you are.



Mark always made friends easily, as he tried to be kind to everyone who crossed his path, saying "don't poke someone in the eye with a stick unless you absolutely have to!" When calling attorneys, he would first ask about their families before getting down to business, how they were doing, if they had been on vacation, how it went, etc. And he did the same with their office staff. And he would know all their names, as he made notes of them and madeA sure he checked them prior to calling. When they would call him "Judge Shore", he would say "oh, please! it's Mark." In return, they would go out of their way to assist him in any way they could. "It's just a nicer way to do things" he'd say. And it was.



Mark is survived by his siblings, Peter and his wife, Nancy, sister Kathy Steinhafel, sister Nancy, as well as his brother Paul's partner, Dr. Mike Neam. Numerous nieces and nephews, and one special niece, his god-daughter, Colleen Delwich and her husband and children.



Mark is also survived by Barbara, his beloved wife of 44 years, best friends, soulmates since their meeting, partners in all things dreamt of and realized, his one, his only Bobbie.



Unknown to Barb but found among Mark's papers were all of the cards and notes she had given him over the years. A post-it note taped to the front of an anniversary card she had recently given him and in his handwriting said "Hasten, O Blessed Hour of Our Reunion".



Any donations that wished to be made in Mark's honor may be made to Marquette University High School, to which he felt so indebted for his education, in particular the debate program, or to Wisconsin Public Radio, which he listened to both in the office and in the car, and credited with making the many long drives throughout the State of Wisconsin to hold hearings more enjoyable, in particular, The Larry Muelar Show.



Mark also greatly loved to travel particularly to places with warm sand beaches and hoped to do more of that once he finally got around to retiring. He loved telling the story of wrestling with Scruffy the Florida Panther on his first vacation with Bobbie to Pompano Beach. But as Mark would say "That story is best saved for another time over glass of a fine single malt."

We will see you there, Mark