Mark Stockman, 63, of Columbus, Nebraska, died Sunday, July 7, 2024, at his home at Jarecki Lake, Columbus, Nebraska.
Graveside services and military honors by The American Legion Hartman Post 84 Honor Guard and the Naval Honor Guard, will be held on Friday, July 12, at 10:00 AM, at Pleasant View Cemetery, (1.5 miles South on road D off of Hwy 64 - west of Bellwood, Nebraska.) Memorials may be directed to the family.
Mark Alan Stockman was born on April 26, 1961, to Charles and Leona (Brown) Stockman in Norfolk, Nebraska. He grew up in Norfolk and Columbus. Mark graduated from Columbus High School in 1980. He enlisted in the United States Navy on June 9, 1980 and spent four years on the USS Trenton. This was during the Grenada invasion where he drove a Cox boat filled with soldiers who helped the civilians leave the island. He was honorably discharged on June 8,1984.
On April 5, 1986, Mark was united in marriage to Jennie Trofholz at Immanuel Lutheran Church. Two children were born to this union, Andrea in 1988 and Robyn in 1991.
Mark worked part-time for the Platte County Sheriff’s Department as a jailer and for Henke Machine, and then Steenbock Oil before it was bought out by Sapp Brothers. He was fuel desk manager for a few years and in April of 1993 he was made general manager of Sapp Brothers in Sidney, Nebraska. The family lived in Sidney from 1993 to 1998 until he was made general manager of Sapp Brothers in Fremont, Nebraska. They lived in Fremont from 1998 to 2005 when he was made general manager of Sapp Brothers in Columbus. He was so happy to be able to come back home. He left that position in 2007 to try something different. He was manager for MidPlains Manufacturing (part of Central Confinement) for one year. He left that position and worked for Foreman Lumber. Mark always wanted to learn to finish houses on the inside which he learned from his time there. He finished the house on Jarecki Lake and was so proud to show everyone what he had done. On May 2, 2011, he started with the Columbus Community Hospital in Plant Operations/Head Groundskeeper, which is a position he held until the time of his death.
One thing Mark had was a great work ethic. There were many Sunday mornings we would drive into town and he would say, “I need to got to the Southside, which is Home Health and Hospice, to start a sprinkler or I need to drive out to the hospital to see what I need to mow tomorrow” He would drive around the entire building as well as the YMCA looking at what needed to be done for the week. He was also in charge of the maintenance on the fleet of vehicles owned by the hospital. There were times his phone would ring at home after he was done for the day. It would be a nurse for Home Health and Hospice saying there was something wrong with a car. He would say put a work order in and I will come by first thing in the morning and grab the keys and take a look at it. He would be on the phone with Zeger Auto after he was home for the day, finding out what was wrong with a vehicle and deciding what the next step would be. He was proud to work for the Columbus Community Hospital and it definitely showed.
Mark was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who always spoiled the family with his barbecue and smoked ribs. His favorite thing on Saturday was to watch reruns of BBQ Pitmasters. He always said no matter how many times he watched it, he always learned something new. He enjoyed going to Omaha to Sam’s and Costco to find just the perfect meat to smoke. He will truly be missed by his family and friends. So it’s only fitting to say: “Go rest high on that mountain, Son, your work on earth is done. Go to heaven a-shoutin’, Love for the Father and the Son.”
Mark is survived by:
Wife: Jennie Stockman of Columbus, NE
Daughter: Andrea Stockman of Columbus, NE
Daughter: Robyn (Brent) Fiala of Columbus, NE
Grandchildren: Paityn Stockman, Maverick Fiala, Deacon Fiala, & Evelynn Fiala all of Columbus, NE
Father: Charles Stockman & Marcia Stockman of Columbus, NE
Brothers: Todd (Kay) Stockman of Estes Park, CO & Troy Stockman of Superior, CO
Brothers-in-law & Sisters-in-law: Ron & Rita Trofholz & Ken & Linda Christensen, both of Columbus, NE
Numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, & cousins
The cats: Blaze & Baxter
Mark was preceded in death by:
Mother: Leona Stockman
Grandparents: Leo & Dorothy Brown & Lawrence & Grace Stockman
Uncle: Michael Stockman
Parents-in-law: Robert & Ruth Trofholz