Holger Marquis Obituary

June 23, 1941 - March 13, 2008 Forty + year Black Forest resident, Holger "Mark" Marquis passed away on March 13, 2008 after a ten-month fight with Multiple Myeloma (bone marrow blood cancer). There will be no more fishing and hunting stories, but they will be remembered. Life came at Mark in unexpected and often unfair ways and he met it head on as best he could. Mark was born in Bergedorf, Germany. In 1954 he was put on a boat in Hamburg by his estranged father and deposited in New York City with only his mother's name and "Schenectady, New York" written on a piece of paper. Five years later he was a husband, father, and non-citizen Airman in the United States Air Force. After serving eight years in the Air Force he became a lithographer and printer at the Air Force Academy until his retirement in 1993. "Mark" as his friends knew him was the guy you could call when you needed help building a fence. He was the guy who would dig out Black Forest people and deliver medications after a heavy snow. Mark and several friends always participated in the famous Black Forest Outhouse races and also took part in the annual friendly Colorado against Texas Tomato Wars in Twin Lakes. Twenty-one years ago he met his soul mate, Jackie, and it was with her that he discovered himself. He was very content with his life after his retirement and became very active in the El Paso County Democratic Party and the Freethinkers of Colorado Springs. He was preceded in death by his father Eugen Marquis, and his mother, Ursula Flebbe, and survived by his beloved wife of nineteen years, Jackie, his children from a previous marriage: Catherine Biegelsen (her husband Joe and children Fred and Emily) of Manhattan, New York, Lisa DuMond (husband Bill and children Brianna, Tamara, and Tyler, and a great grandson, Kayne Rotzler son of Brianna.) of Unadilla, New York, Danielle Jessop (husband Scott and children Alexandra and Kathleen) of Manitou Springs, Colorado, Quinn Marquis (and wife Paula) of Lyons, Colorado, Andrea Marquis of Ventura, California. He also is survived by step-daughter, Natalie Thornton (and husband David Bryant) of Colorado Springs, and his sister-in-law, Carla Velders of Portland, Oregon. The family would like to thank the compassionate staff of the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center in Colorado Springs and especially Dr. John Burke and his nurse Jane who never gave up on Mark and his battle with cancer. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Freethinkers of Colorado Springs, PO Box 62946, Colorado Springs, CO 80962 or the (Puppy) Mill Rescue Network, 13030 Herring Road, Black Forest, CO 80908. Cremation has taken place. A private celebration of Mark's life will be at his home on Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 1:00pm.