Mark Bernard Zmyslo

Mark Bernard Zmyslo, a lifelong resident of South Bend, passed on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at the age of 66 1/2.

He was born in South Bend to the late Bernard and Betty Zmylso on March 8, 1959.

He attended Holy Family and Pierre Navarre grade school, going on to graduate from Washington High School in 1977.

Mark married the love of his life and his high school sweetheart, Stella Marie Stombaugh, on October 29, 1983, at St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish in New Carlisle, IN. They were married for 43 years, but spent a wonderful 48 years together, having been together for 5 years prior.

In 1993, Mark and Stella welcomed their son, Tyler Zmyslo, into the world.

Mark worked hard all his life, starting at Stanz food service in 1977 until 1997, when he switched careers and started to work for Notre Dame as a Greenskeeper at the newly established Warren golf course, eventually moving to the original golf course on campus, where he finished his 26-year career as Manager of the recently refurbished 9-hole course, Burke. He was always on time and a devoted Catholic.

Mark loved being outside biking with his son and friends. He had a very close relationship with his son, Tyler, both sharing an interest in off-road motorsports, target shooting, and golf, but they spent most of their time together cycling. They were both members of the Pro Form race team, a local bike shop that organized a Thursday afternoon group ride during the season. For over 10 years, they raced the "Michigan Gravel Race Series" and several other mountain bike races, with their favorite being the "Iceman Cometh," a point-to-point race in Kalkaska to Traverse City, Michigan, in early November.

Another outdoor passion of Mark's was golfing or making lawns look like golf courses. Mark's relationship with his fellow high school golfer, Steven Neuliep, whom he stayed in contact with, mentored Mark in his career in the golf course industry and enabled Mark to play at some of the best courses in the area and the Carolinas. Mark, his father and uncle were Whispering Pine Golf Club members, "where good times were had".

Along with his other passions, he also loved skiing and hockey. He played hockey for 50 years, from age 10 to age 60. He played baseball at Maurice Matthys Little League. He coached his son, Tyler, at the Warren Township Little League, as well as St John the Baptist and Holy Family grade schools.

But his favorite thing was when he would take his wife and son to go golfing together. He would give them pointers on how to improve their game. It was a great bonding time, but nothing like the bonding he had through cycling with his son and best friend, Tyler.

It was a roller coaster of peaks and valleys the last years of his life, starting in March 2022 with a diagnosis of esophageal cancer that metastasized to his brain and then to his spinal fluid. He stayed strong throughout the treatment, working at the golf course and his part-time lawn care business; golfing, cycling, and still racing when manageable.

A devoted husband. His wife, Stella loved to cook him all his favorite foods because he loved to eat! But even his love of food did not stand in the way of his love of cycling he always made sur to keep his weight in check. He loved all his past dogs, including 3 golden and 1 black lab.

From skiing to fishing to hockey and even canoeing down the St. Joseph River. His younger years were full of physical activity. He gracefully aged and loved sitting in the shade, sipping a cold microbrewery beer to relax after a good day or a hard day at work.

Mark promised everyone has a fair shot on his KOM on, "the road to Heaven" segment

Mark is preceded in death by his parents, Betty Zmyslo, who passed away in 1999, and Bernard Zmyslo, who passed away in 2005.

He is survived by his wife Stella, his son Tyler, and his older sister Deborah.

Donations in honor of Mark may be made to the Shriners Hospital, the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation (the NPCF), the Kids Cancer Project, and the American Cancer Society (ACS).

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 am on Monday, October 6, 2025 at the St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, 55756 Tulip Rd, New Carlisle, IN 46552. After the service there will be a procession to the visitation that will be held after at St Joseph funeral home, 824 S Mayflower Dr, South Bend, IN 46619, until 2 pm. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery.