Mark E. Zerkel

Mark E. Zerkel, 66, of Cherry Valley, passed away Saturday, September 18, 2021. He was born March 13, 1955, in Dayton, OH, the son of Thomas and Gwendolyn (Ponder) Zerkel.

Mark, a lifelong Catholic, was a member of St. Rita Catholic Church. He married Susan Brink on August 25, 1995 in Geneva, IL and they renewed their vows on October 15, 2016 at St Rita Catholic Church. Mark retired from Ozinga after many years as a cement truck driver. He enjoyed animals, especially cats. Mark was known for taking care of the feral cats in the neighborhood, he fed them daily and provided shelter for them throughout the year. Mark enjoyed several different types of music and was a skilled musician who could play many instruments, but especially loved the acoustic guitar and harmonica. Mark was most known to family and friends for playing Piano Man and his Parrott joke. Mark had a contagious personality to everyone he met, he always had a story to tell and knew how to make everyone laugh. The simplest pleasures in life brought Mark great joy, like spending time with his family, especially his beloved wife Susan. He will be greatly missed by all that knew him.

Survivors include his wife, Sue; children Thomas (Alan) Brown, Deana (Don) Mines and Kimberlee Beaman; grandchildren, Kaitlynn Huff, Ashley Riley, Jessica Crampton, Rebeka Mines, Baylee Beaman, Sydnee Beaman, Christian Rea, Brekem Beaman and Braxton Beaman; great grandchildren, Alexia, Penelope, Delilah and Adeline; siblings, Thomas (Donna) Zerkel, Toni (Patrick) Hogan, Michael (Kelly) Zerkel, Timothy (Brenda) Zerkel and Terry Zerkel and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Mary Cobb and Martin Zerkel.

Special thank you to the staff on the 2nd Floor North at OSF St. Anthony center especially nurse, Vanessa and Dr. Irene Boswell.

Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, September 23, 2021 at St. Rita Catholic Church, 6254 Valley Knoll Drive, Rockford, IL 61109. Visitation will be Thursday, September 23, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. until Mass. Please wear masks and social distance at all events. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Mark's name may be made to Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary or Miss Carly’s. Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory assisted the family. Share online condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.