Mark Bennett

Mark Alan Bennett May 11, 1955 – June 7, 2015

Mark Alan Bennett, 60, died in his home on Sunday, June 7th after a two year battle with brain cancer. Mark is preceded in death by his father, Robert Bennett, and many beloved family members including Jean, Donna, George, Dick, Howard, Donna, and John.
Mark, a boy of Wisconsin roots, received a BA in Biology from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota in 1977. He then spent three years as a high school science teacher in Manitowoc, Wisconsin before returning to school to pursue advanced degrees at the University of Minnesota. After earning his PhD in Horticulture, Mark and his young family of five moved to Ohio in 1986 where Mark accepted a position as Assistant Professor in the Department of Horticulture at The Ohio State University. During a twenty-nine year career at OSU, Mark established a nationally recognized research program in vegetable production, and he provided leadership to an extension program that positively impacted many Ohio vegetable producers. Mark was a highly regarded teacher and mentor of both undergraduate and graduate students, and he had the privilege of working regularly with other horticulturists around the world – creating meaningful partnerships in Brazil and Tanzania. He was inspired by his work, had a passion for the earth, and thrived on sharing this passion with his colleagues, friends, and family.
Those close to Mark will embrace the many ideals that he leaves behind. Mark shared with us the joy of learning, his truth that curiosity and an open-mind reap great rewards always. Mark shared with us the often overlooked value of the simple, of the ability to find pleasure in the subtle beauty that surrounds us. And Mark shared with us the value of gratitude, of the importance of honoring what is given to us through hard work and love.
These beloved elements of Mark’s spirit will be carried on through the family he loved and admired so much: his mother, Carol Bennett; his wife of 36 years, Joanna, and their three children: Jacob Bennett and wife, Lindsay; Maren Traeger and husband, Jake; Laura Calland and husband, Eric; through his six grandchildren – Braden, Kylie, Bennett, Reid, Mara, and Kora – all of whom Mark loved to watch as their personalities unfurled; Mark’s younger siblings – Robbie Jensen (Larry), Kathy Nelson (Craig), and John Bennett (Nora) – and Mark’s many in-laws, aunts and uncles, cousins, and loved nieces and nephews with whom he shared great memories.
It was important to Mark that those close to him understood the incredible thanks he had for the role they played in his life. Thanks to our friends, our neighbors, and our fellow church members at Grace Lutheran and Rush River Lutheran. Thanks to the team at The James Cancer Center and Novocure. Your love and kindness did not go unnoticed by MB.
In celebration of Mark’s life in Christ, visitation will be held on Friday, June 19th from 6pm – 8pm at Moreland Funeral Home, 55 E. Schrock Rd Westerville, OH 43081. The service will be held Saturday, June 20th at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church 100 E. Schrock Rd. The Service will begin at 11 am with a visitation starting at 10 am. A memorial service will also be held at Rush River Lutheran Church in Beldenville, WI on Saturday, July 25th. Visitation will at 10 am with the service to follow at 11 am. If unable to join us, we would love for you to celebrate Mark’s life in your own way – go for a walk, plant something, enjoy the paper with a cup of coffee – anything that makes you remember him fondly.
In Mark’s memory, donations may be made to The Nature Conservancy (www.nature.org), Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church (www.Grace43081.org), or in support of the horticulture teaching program at The Ohio State University (Attention: Ms. Jennifer Heller, CFAES Development Office, 216 Howlett Hall, 2001 Fyffe Court, Columbus, OH 43210).