Publication: West Bend Daily News; Date: Apr 5, 2011; Section: Opinion; Page: A7
Mark T. Damon, 50, of Jackson, passed away on Friday, April 1, 2011, at his residence.
He was born on Nov. 18, 1960, in Appleton to Robert and Jennie (nee Zelmer) Damon. Mark graduated from Appleton High School West in the class of 1979. He took night classes at Fox Valley Technical Institute in printing and publishing and later found employment at Pickering & Pickering, a local machine design builder. In November of 1983, Mark moved to Milwaukee and found employment at Faustel Inc. as a mechanical designer and through the years progressed into a fine senior mechanical coating engineer.
Work was not the only thing that occupied Mark’s time. He met Janet Petroske in 1984 and started a life-long relationship that culminated into marriage vows on Feb. 8, 2006.
Mark had many loves and hobbies in his life. His passion for magic history began from an uncle who knew Harry Houdini and that bug never left him. He collected magic memorabilia and things related to magic history most of his life including books, autographs and such. Mark also had a deep passion for oil and water color painting. Music was another love, playing bass guitar with friends and in bands. His weekly ritual of Sunday morning golf with his great friend Mark Gilbert over the last 21 years will be dearly missed by them both. Other enjoyments included camping and cross-country skiing. Mark and Janet have three lovely cats that have given them much joy and pleasure over the years too.
He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians for 35 years, the Magic C o l l e c t o r s Association and The Houdini Club of Wisconsin.
Mark is survived by his wife, Janet of Jackson; father, Robert J. Damon of Appleton; sister, Kathy Damon of Appleton; two brothers, Bob (Anita) Damon of Appleton and Bill (special friend, Jean Kempf) Damon of Appleton; father-in-law, Gil Petroske of West Allis; brothers-in-law, Dave (special friend, Helen Pagenkopf) Petroske of Wausau, Tom (Jan) Petroske of Hubertus and Jim (Pat) Petroske of West Allis; close special family friend, Sr. Deb Kedzierski; other relatives and many friends.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Jennie Damon; and mother-in-law, Lu Petroske.
A memorial service in remembrance of Mark will be held on Saturday, April 9, at noon at the Myrhum-Patten Funeral Home, 1315 W. Washington St., West Bend. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Saturday from 11 a.m. until the time of the service. Inurnment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery in Appleton.
Memorials to the American Cancer Society for Esophageal Cancer Research, or a Humane Society of your choice are appreciated by the family.
Online guest book and condolences can be found at www.myrhum-patten.com.
The family especially appreciates the care Mark received from doctors, nurses and other staff members at Froedtert Hospital, Kathy's Hospice and Horizon Home Care & Hospice.
