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Mark Watson
MARK JAMES WATSON
Burlington
Mark James Watson, 44, of Burlington, died Friday, July 29, 2016, in Sac County.
Born on Jan. 26, 1972, in Aurora, Ill., he was the son of James and Joanne (Setterberg) Watson. He married Jamie King on April 26, 2008 in Chicago.
Mark owned and operated Watson Ag Aviation, specializing in crop dusting. He was previously a Chrysler mechanic for many years in the Washington, Waterloo and Cedar Rapids area. He also worked for Burlington Junction and Union Pacific.
Flying was Mark's passion. Mark began flying in 2006 and obtained his private pilot's license. He was an accomplished pilot and continued to further his endorsements adding private, commercial, instrument, sea plane and tail wheel and also held his A&P. He loved driving his semi-truck and riding his motorcycle. His biggest joy was his time spent with his wife, his dogs and his many friends. He was a very positive person and never would let you down. He was a very intelligent man and knew a lot about everything. He had a wide range of friends and acquaintances and was well known. He loved to watch his favorite movies "The Blues Brothers" and "Smokey and the Bandit." On any given evening you might have found him "Frank'in it Up," singing and dancing with Jamie to Frank Sinatra.
Survivors include his wife, Jamie Watson of Burlington; parents, Jim Watson of Morris, Ill., and Joanne Watson of Burlington; father- and mother-in-law, James and Linda Cue of Marion; one sister, Kathleen Watson of Washington, D.C.; maternal grandmother, Betty Setterberg of Burlington; and aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents and maternal grandfather.
The celebration of life visitation for "Watson" will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, in Lunning Chapel, Burlington. The family will receive friends from noon until the time of service. Friends are asked to come and share memories of Mark. In honor of his passion for flying and the work he so deeply embraced, Ag-Air out of Washington, Iowa, will be conducting a flyover in missing man formation at 6 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established.
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