Mark Gilbert Hofius, 55, of Midland and Drummond Island, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, June 26, 2012. He was born on July 20, 1956 in Sharon, Pennsylvania, son of Paul and Noreen (Snyderwine) Hofius, eventually settling in Michigan after marrying his wife, Kathy Lynn Staley.

Mark graduated from Jefferson City High School in 1974, and then attended the University of Missouri, Columbia where he earned a Bachelors of Science Degree in Chemistry. While completing his undergraduate degree, he was a member of the Track and Cross Country Team at the University of Missouri. He competed in numerous 5 and 10 K races and reigned as university and state champion on several occasions. Mark was employed by the university as a teaching assistant while he completed his Master’s Degree of Chemistry.

Upon graduation from university, Mark moved to Freeport, Texas, when he was employed in the Plastics Department of the Dow Chemical Company. It is there that he met his wife, Kathy. Mark and Kathy realized they had very similar desires in life, including their faith, family, and a love of the outdoors. They married in Traverse City, Michigan, in 1987, and settled in Midland, Michigan, to begin their lives together and continue their careers at Dow.

Mark held various positions with Dow Chemical through his career and was fortunate to be involved in projects that provided him with the opportunity to travel extensively, domestically and abroad. He was a devoted Dow employee who took pride in the products he developed, as well as the teams he supported and led.

When not working, Mark loved spending time on Drummond Island with his family and friends. Together, he and Kathy built a log home on the shores of Lake Huron, working side-by-side and with family over the course of many years. The Hofius family Drummond Island home is filled with wood working projects completed by Mark – he was truly a gifted carpenter. He loved getting out on the lake to take his family boating, water skiing, tubing behind the boat, and fishing. He enjoyed playing golf, four-wheeling and just being outdoors. Mark made a point to share that love of the outdoors with his sons just like his father had done with him years before. (He earned the rank of Eagle at age 14.) His passion for running was ever-present, and kept him “pounding the pavement” most mornings. Before passing suddenly, he was on his way out for his morning run.

Mark will be sadly missed by his wife Kathy; sons Sasha and Andrey; parents Paul and Noreen Hofius; sister Paula Volk and brother-in-law Lewis; sister Kathy Clark and brother-in-law Eddie; sister Lori Raithel and brother-in-law Daryl; sister Lee Knernschield and brother in-law-Mark; parent-in-laws, Alan and Pat Staley; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, including Tom (Penny) Staley, Chris (Christine) Staley and Jim (Dawn) Staley, nieces and many nephews, and his golden retriever, Jedi!

Arrangements are being handled by Ware Smith Woolever Funeral Home. Visitation is Thursday, June 28, from 4 – 8PM, including a vigil service at 7PM. A funeral Mass will be held at Saint Brigid Catholic Church in Midland on Friday, June 29, at 11AM. There will be visitation at the church from 10 a.m. until time of the mass. A memorial service will be held at Saint Florence Catholic Church, on Friday, July 6, at 1PM, followed by interment at the Drummond Island Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks to consider donations to Andrey and Sasha's College Fund, checks to be made out to: Kathy Hofius fbo scholarship fund.