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Mark S. Kirkholm, 66, of Storm Lake passed away Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022 as the result of a motor vehicle accident.
A Celebration of Life service will take place Friday, Aug. 12, at 11 a.m. at Schaller Memorial Chapel on the campus of Buena Vista University in Storm Lake. Visitation will take place Thursday, Aug. 11, from 2-8 p.m. at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake where family will be present the entire time. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established for the future area trap-shooting site.
Mark Stanley Kirkholm was born on May 29, 1956, to Stanley and Bonnie (Olson) Kirkholm in Cherokee. Mark attended school in Ida Grove, graduating in 1974. He pursued his college education at Ellsworth Community College where he received his degree in 1975. After college he returned to Ida Grove where he was employed as a radio operator for the Ida County Sheriff’s Department, as well as serving on the Ida Grove Police Force and as a park ranger for the Ida County Conservation Board. In 1977, he joined the Alta Police Force for a year before relocating to Storm Lake, where he met his future wife. On Sept. 20, 1980, Mark was united in marriage to Nelda Ulrich at Church of Christ in Storm Lake. From this union they were blessed with two children, Kristin and Tyler.
Mark went on to join the Storm Lake Police Department from 1979-1999 where he spent a majority of his law enforcement career as a detective. He served on the state review committee for the MOCIC Board and the Iowa Law Enforcement Intelligent Network during his tenure in law enforcement. In late 1999, he retired from the police department and joined Buena Vista University as the director of security. While security was his primary responsibility, he eventually assumed the position of Dean of Students as well. Other roles he served while at BVU were assisting Dr. Robert Blodgett with freshman seminar courses, advisor for the Outdoor Rec club, assisting Dr. Rick Lampe with the Stream Conservation/Fly Fishing course, as well as accompanied several adventures to South Africa. Mark retired from BVU in 2017.
After his retirement he obtained numerous side jobs to help support his love for adventure. He enjoyed working for CVS Pharmacy/Martin Health, Simmering-Cory, the Buena Vista County Medical Examiners and the June E. Nylen Cancer Center where he truly relished in meeting and conversing with patients he transported to and from Sioux City.
Over the course of his life he was especially proud to be a member of the Big Brother/Big Sister program, the Buena Vista County Trumpeter Swan Restoration project, Ducks Unlimited, the Buena Vista County Conservation Board, and taking part in the Wounded Warrior Elk Hunt. Mark also had a passion to volunteer his services to those in need in the community by helping with the local food drives and delivering Thanksgiving meals.
Mark loved the outdoors and was always ready for his next big adventure. He enjoyed fly-fishing the drift less region of Northeast Iowa and multiple mountain ranges of the west, as well as fishing in Alaska. Another love of Mark’s was hunting various Iowa game, but he could never resist annually applying for points to get that big trophy elk hunt.
Mark’s biggest joy was his family and his treasured time with his grandsons, Gavin and Nolin. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him, especially anyone who went on an adventure with him. Mark had many, many stories and a contagious laugh. He has certainly left this world too soon, but had undoubtedly surpassed his nine lives, as many of us know. We know he will continue his adventures on this new quest of fishing and hunting in his eternal life.
Mark is survived by the love of his life, Nelda Kirkholm of Storm Lake; children: Kristin (Justin) Anderson of Alta; Tyler (Ken) Kirkholm of Des Moines; grandchildren: Gavin and Nolin Anderson of Alta; parents: Stanley and Bonnie Kirkholm of Lakeside; brother Grant (Coleen) Kirkholm of Larchwood; sister Julie (Mark) Reis of Runnells; extended family and many friends.
Mark was preceded in death by his grandparents Ray and Veva Olson and Jens and Gladys Kirkholm.
