Mark Block

Mark Block, age 71, of Ortonville, MN, passed away on June 16, 2023.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 23, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at First English Lutheran Church in Ortonville. Rev. Melanie Reiners will officiate. Visitation will be held at the church on Thursday beginning at 5:00 p.m. followed by a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue at the church on Friday, one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at Mound Cemetery. Mark’s family asks that you dress casually as Mark did not like suits and ties!

The service will be livestreamed and recorded and viewable below this obituary.

Mark Nathan Block was born on December 12, 1951, in Ortonville, MN. He was the son of Marvin and Joan (Beachem) Block. Mark grew up on the family farm in the rural Correll, MN, area. He attended country school through the fifth grade and graduated from Ortonville High School with the Class of 1969. Mark was united in marriage with Terry Nelson on January 4, 1972, in Big Stone City, SD.

Mark and Terry made their home in Ortonville. They were blessed with three children: Mark, Jennifer, and Matthew. They lived in the Ortonville area until 1986, then moved to the Block Homestead near Correll, MN. In 2016, they returned to Ortonville.

Mark started working at L.G. Everist in 1970 and retired after 45 years. During that time, he operated a tree trimming business for a few years. He also farmed for 13 years. He was a faithful member of First English Lutheran Church and served on several church boards. He was a member of the Moose Lodge 407. He assisted with Skeeziks Youth Center. Mark was involved with the Gamblers Anonymous Program and served on the finance committee at Sunscape RV Resort in Arizona. He was a member of the Men’s Holiday Coffee Club and always loved to play cards, especially with his grandchildren.

Mark and Terry enjoyed spending their winters in Arizona, and for the past 14 years have stayed in Casa Grande. Mark loved the warm winters with his “winter family.”

Mark’s parents were hard working folks who taught Mark the value and ethics of working hard. He passed these traits onto his children and grandchildren. It was important to Mark that things were done “correctly”. He adored his family and grandchildren. He always wanted them by his side while he did projects, turning it into a teachable moment. In his younger years, Mark’s idea of family bonding and vacations was combining and baling hay with his family! He taught his grandchildren to drive and was only a phone call away if they needed help fixing something.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Terry of Ortonville, MN; his children: Mark (Amy) Block II of Correll, MN; Jennifer Block (Jason) of Ortonville, MN; and Matthew (Layla) Block of Omaha, NE; grandchildren: Mason Block, Miley Block, Kori Block and Wyatt Sherod, Xavier Block, Madisyn Block, and Matthew Block II (Noah); step-grandchildren: Max Weinke, Courtney Woehrle, Samantha Appleman; step-great-grandchildren: Matilda, Lennon, David, Paisley, Evelyn, and Gabriel; sisters: Dawn (Doug) Leger, Ronda (Russell) Thielke, and Ginger (Ron) Athey, all of Ortonville, MN; brother-in-law, Gary (Jean) Nelson of Arizona; and half brother-in-law, Charles Nelson of Washington; uncle, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, and many dear friends.

Mark was preceded in death by his parents: Marvin and Joan; his father-in-law and mother-in-law: Gordon and Betty Nelson; brother-in-law, Kim Nelson; as well as several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

The family suggests memorials be given to Mound Cemetery, Ortonville, MN.