Mark Millbauer

Our amazing father and grandfather, Mark Millbauer, was called to his Heavenly Home on March 10. He journeyed in divine peace and love, in the arms of his family, at home in Enumclaw. Mark was a vibrant, fun, thoughtful, and loving man with great wit and humor, and with many hobbies and skills, mostly self-taught. He was an accomplished craftsman in many diverse areas, seemingly able to use his hands to create or fix anything he set his mind to; a skilled sportsman and passionate outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, sailing, running, cycling, hiking, and many other outdoor pursuits; a cherished friend; an inspiring teacher and colleague; a good Samaritan, always willing to lend a hand to a friend, family member, or stranger; an avid reader and lifelong learner; and a beautiful dancer. Above all, he was defined by his dedication to his children and his grandchildren. How fortunate are we who got to dance through life with him!

Mark was born October 7, 1955, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Noreen and Don Millbauer, the eldest of eight children. A Boy Scout, he enjoyed many outdoor pursuits and self-made adventures with friends and siblings. He began to learn and hone skills he would carry with him for a lifetime, such as woodworking, boatbuilding, auto repair, hunting, sewing, and technical drawing. When Mark was 15, the family moved to Richland, Washington. There, he furthered his outdoor pursuits, and deepened his passion for automotive work, specifically auto body repair and paint, which allowed him to use his innate artistic sense.

Soon after moving to Richland, Mark met his future wife, Lori. They graduated together from Columbia High School (Richland High) in 1973 and were married in 1976. They raised their four children in Walla Walla, and later in Enumclaw, where they settled in 1994. Mark lived in Auburn for 10 years before returning to Enumclaw in 2024, after being diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease).

Mark studied Auto Body Technology at Columbia Basin College in the 1970s. In the 1980s and early 90s, he worked as an auto body technician in the Tri-Cities and Walla Walla, and managed the auto collision repair shops at Teague Ford and Hanlon Motors in Walla Walla. In 1993, Mark transitioned to teaching. He enjoyed teaching Auto Body Technology at Green River Community College for many years, from 1993 until 2015, where he served as a tenured instructor, chairman of the trades division, and president of the faculty union. He later worked as an auto collision technical trainer, quality assurance specialist, and welding instructor for organizations such as Service King and I-CAR.

As a young father, Mark found the time to coach his kids' sports teams, and for decades he was a fixture on the sidelines at his children's and grandchildren's sporting events. In his spare time, Mark always found joy in sailing and tinkering on his sailboats, particularly his Catalina 30, which he sailed on the Puget Sound out of Brownsville Marina for many years, and later out of Des Moines. He particularly enjoyed sailing into Poulsbo, Kingston, and the San Juan Islands.

Mark is survived by Lori, their four kids and their spouses, Katie Martin (Tristan), Sara Stratton (Cameron), Emily McConahy (Jared), and Keenan Millbauer (Alex); eight grandchildren; seven siblings, Don, Jim, Mary Ann, Kathy, Meg, Eileen and Max, and 10 sisters- and brothers-in-law; an uncle, Gerald Millbauer, an aunt, Marjorie McCarthy, and 12 cousins; 23 nieces and nephews; and countless friends.

We will celebrate Mark's awesome life on Saturday, March 22, at 4 pm., at the Enumclaw Expo Fieldhouse. Join us for a memorial service followed by drinks and dancing. In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Mark by laughing with loved ones, dancing to a favorite song, enjoying a favorite hobby, or donating funds to The First Hunt Foundation, a mentorship program dedicated to passing on the "forgotten rites" of hunting skills and conservation knowledge.