Mark Briggeman was first diagnosed with a very rare genetic disorder when he was just 12 years old. Mark’s bone marrow did not produce the correct number of blood cells for his circulatory system. The disease, among other things, had reduced the platelets in Mark’s blood to such an extent that his blood had lost its ability to clot from a wound. Mark tried not to allow this disorder to affect his life or his outlook. If fact, looking back, it probably made him appreciate what he had and to take more chances in life ~ more than the rest of us.
Mark underwent a bone marrow transplant at the University of Minnesota Hospital on Sept 19, 1996. He then married Katherine Collins of Minneapolis, MN on November 13, 1996 and adopted her 18 month old daughter, Michaela. That little girl was the sparkle in Mark’s eye!
Mark experienced complications following the transplant and passed away on Friday, March 14, 1997 at age 26.
*Thanks to Kim Ingram for writing this, with Mark's parents' Blessings.
My fondest memories of Mark were in choir (go figure?). I remember in Junior high, with Mrs Farrell - Mark would sing SOOO loud...usually not on any pitch...but with lots of "gusto". I remember Mark being a very athletic guy, and a little goofy...kind of a dry sense of humor, and sometimes maybe even unintentional. Hope he is watching over the class of 1989! :o)
Mark Briggeman. I knew him all my life. His Dad played baseball with my Dad so our families spent many Sunday’s together at various ball parks around the tri state area when we were little. I think our Dad’s were both on a team out of Stoddard for while so I have many memories of us at the Stoddard ball field of playing & running & general wildness. His sister Kristen was walking up the big Stoddard Park slide instead of the ladder & fell off & broke her arm (which I preach to my kids on a regular basis- do not go up the slide- you will fall off & break your arm). Mark & I of course were right there & watched it happen & before she hit the ground we were half way back to where our mom’s were sitting, shouting for them to come quick ‘cause we knew it was bad. I remember running through the corn field next to Shooky Fink field in New Albin, IA looking for foul balls. It was always a race because they paid you for every foul ball & Mark was fast & competitive, although I did beat him a few times. I always wanted to pal around with Kristen- I did not want to hang around with a boy, but it seems that Mark & I were destined to hang out together. On a trip to Valley Fair, he was the only one who would go on all the rides with me, our sisters too chicken and our brothers were too little, so we were stuck with each other. Mark certainly did not have any outward show of fear. He always had enormous self confidence & bravado. He may have come across as cocky but that was just him. He wore black gloves playing football to protect his hands. I remember many comments were made to suggest wore them to be cool or act like a big star & I do not think he ever told anyone why he did. How about his pink polo shirt ?- talk about confidence. What a wardrobe- I remember always saying he had more clothes than most girls. We both went to Winona State for our 2nd year of college. Nikki LaPoint & Scott Nielsen also went there so we car pooled there & sometimes road tripped home. We had lots of laughs, good talks & good times. Scott & Mark lived in an apt on Welshire together at the time & it was quite the “pad”, I think they had Poker tournaments almost every night. Friday nights at Andy’s with Mark wearing his $ sign necklace. I rode with Mark to Stephanie Hill’s wedding. I laughed the whole way there. I think he lost a nail & grossed me out with it the whole ride. He lived with Jack Gurholt for a while & we had many fun times there as well. He would always listen even if he did not have the best advice- or any advice at all. I gave blood for the first time to find out my blood type to see if mine would match his when he needed a bone marrow transplant. I worked at Franciscan Skemp at the time & would hear about his struggles & triumphs through his mom who also worked there. Mark got married on my husband’s birthday & then died on my dad’s birthday only a month before my wedding. I just wanted to share some memories of a good friend. Our class would not have been the same without him. The world lost a wonderful person. He is often missed & will not be forgotten.
I enjoyed reading the shared stories about Mark, and I remember some things from elementary school. My mother actually has a picture of him, Kelly Lyons, and me sitting together. I think we're about 5 years old. It's pretty cute!
Does anyone remember the annual 400 yd. dash that was upgraded to the 600 yd. dash when we were older elementary students? Every year, Mark and I would chat about those timed runs. I'd tell him that one of these years I was going to beat him. He would just laugh. I ran my heart out trying to catch him, and I came close a time or two. I haven't thought about this in a long time, and it's funny the things we remember.
Kelly Lyons (Johnston)
Mark Briggeman was first diagnosed with a very rare genetic disorder when he was just 12 years old. Mark’s bone marrow did not produce the correct number of blood cells for his circulatory system. The disease, among other things, had reduced the platelets in Mark’s blood to such an extent that his blood had lost its ability to clot from a wound. Mark tried not to allow this disorder to affect his life or his outlook. If fact, looking back, it probably made him appreciate what he had and to take more chances in life ~ more than the rest of us.Mark underwent a bone marrow transplant at the University of Minnesota Hospital on Sept 19, 1996. He then married Katherine Collins of Minneapolis, MN on November 13, 1996 and adopted her 18 month old daughter, Michaela. That little girl was the sparkle in Mark’s eye!
Mark experienced complications following the transplant and passed away on Friday, March 14, 1997 at age 26.
*Thanks to Kim Ingram for writing this, with Mark's parents' Blessings.
Kelly Lyons (Johnston)
My fondest memories of Mark were in choir (go figure?).I remember in Junior high, with Mrs Farrell - Mark would sing SOOO loud...usually not on any pitch...but with lots of "gusto". I remember Mark being a very athletic guy, and a little goofy...kind of a dry sense of humor, and sometimes maybe even unintentional. Hope he is watching over the class of 1989! :o)
Tracy Boyer (VonArx)
Mark Briggeman. I knew him all my life. His Dad played baseball with my Dad so our families spent many Sunday’s together at various ball parks around the tri state area when we were little. I think our Dad’s were both on a team out of Stoddard for while so I have many memories of us at the Stoddard ball field of playing & running & general wildness. His sister Kristen was walking up the big Stoddard Park slide instead of the ladder & fell off & broke her arm (which I preach to my kids on a regular basis- do not go up the slide- you will fall off & break your arm). Mark & I of course were right there & watched it happen & before she hit the ground we were half way back to where our mom’s were sitting, shouting for them to come quick ‘cause we knew it was bad. I remember running through the corn field next to Shooky Fink field in New Albin, IA looking for foul balls. It was always a race because they paid you for every foul ball & Mark was fast & competitive, although I did beat him a few times. I always wanted to pal around with Kristen- I did not want to hang around with a boy, but it seems that Mark & I were destined to hang out together. On a trip to Valley Fair, he was the only one who would go on all the rides with me, our sisters too chicken and our brothers were too little, so we were stuck with each other. Mark certainly did not have any outward show of fear. He always had enormous self confidence & bravado. He may have come across as cocky but that was just him. He wore black gloves playing football to protect his hands. I remember many comments were made to suggest wore them to be cool or act like a big star & I do not think he ever told anyone why he did. How about his pink polo shirt ?- talk about confidence. What a wardrobe- I remember always saying he had more clothes than most girls. We both went to Winona State for our 2nd year of college. Nikki LaPoint & Scott Nielsen also went there so we car pooled there & sometimes road tripped home. We had lots of laughs, good talks & good times. Scott & Mark lived in an apt on Welshire together at the time & it was quite the “pad”, I think they had Poker tournaments almost every night. Friday nights at Andy’s with Mark wearing his $ sign necklace. I rode with Mark to Stephanie Hill’s wedding. I laughed the whole way there. I think he lost a nail & grossed me out with it the whole ride. He lived with Jack Gurholt for a while & we had many fun times there as well. He would always listen even if he did not have the best advice- or any advice at all. I gave blood for the first time to find out my blood type to see if mine would match his when he needed a bone marrow transplant. I worked at Franciscan Skemp at the time & would hear about his struggles & triumphs through his mom who also worked there. Mark got married on my husband’s birthday & then died on my dad’s birthday only a month before my wedding.I just wanted to share some memories of a good friend. Our class would not have been the same without him.
The world lost a wonderful person.
He is often missed & will not be forgotten.
Eden Koljord
I enjoyed reading the shared stories about Mark, and I remember some things from elementary school. My mother actually has a picture of him, Kelly Lyons, and me sitting together. I think we're about 5 years old. It's pretty cute!Does anyone remember the annual 400 yd. dash that was upgraded to the 600 yd. dash when we were older elementary students? Every year, Mark and I would chat about those timed runs. I'd tell him that one of these years I was going to beat him. He would just laugh. I ran my heart out trying to catch him, and I came close a time or two. I haven't thought about this in a long time, and it's funny the things we remember.