Ollinger, Mark

Mark Ollinger, 49, died Friday, Sept. 18, 2009, at his rural residence following a sudden illness. A funeral mass will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vinton, with Father David Ambrosy as celebrant. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Phillips Funeral Home, 212 E. Sixth St., Vinton.

Mark was born April 24, 1960, in Marengo, Iowa, to Bernard and Sally (Eichler) Ollinger, and graduated from Vinton's Washington High School in 1978. In his high school years, he had been a drummer with the band Joshua and still enjoyed playing for his family.

On Sept. 18, 1981, he was united in marriage to Lynda Lea White at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vinton.

Mark planted and harvested crops and raised cattle as a farmer who truly loved each and every day of farm life - a true steward of the land. He was also passionate about restoring classic vehicles and farm equipment. This hobby gave him great pleasure and his talent and the quality of his effort was admired by many. Mark was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church.

He will be remembered most of all as a loving husband and father whose family always came first in his life.

He is survived by his wife, Lynda; daughter, Stephanie, and son, Matt, both of Vinton; his parents, Bernard and Sally Ollinger of Vinton; his brother, Craig (Deb) Ollinger of Sugar Grove, Ill.; his sister, Amy Ollinger of Iowa City; his father- and mother-in-law, Marshal and Beverly White of Shellsburg; his brother-in-law, Alan White of Decorah; his sisters-in-law, Laurie (John) Mayhew of Vinton and Janine (Gale) Rowden of Shellsburg; many nieces and nephews; and numerous friends.

He was preceded in death by his paternal and maternal grandparents.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.

Condolences may be left at