Mineral Point - Mark C. Evenson, age 69, of Mineral Point passed away on Monday, January 9, 2023, in Madison, WI at UW Health's University Hospital surrounded by loved ones.

Mark was born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia. He attended Middlebury College, graduating with a double major in French and Spanish in 1975. He also attended the Middlebury Language Schools for both French and Spanish during the summer of 1978. During his undergraduate years, he spent an enjoyable summer in Alaska and two semesters studying abroad in France. He taught high school Spanish in Massachusetts for a year and lived in Mexico City for two years. He began his doctoral studies in Spanish at the University of Colorado-Boulder. He lived in Colorado for eight years, during two of which he taught Spanish at Adams State University. He moved from Colorado to Madison, WI to complete his doctoral studies and earned his Ph.D. in Spanish from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1995. While working on his dissertation, he spent three months in Argentina. After completing his doctoral studies, Mark moved to Mankato, Minnesota and taught Spanish at Gustavus Adolphus College. In 1997, he joined the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and taught Spanish in the Humanities Department there until his retirement in 2017. In his retirement, he enjoyed tutoring in a variety of subjects including Spanish, French, English, and Math along with doing interpreting for healthcare clinics in the Madison area.

In addition to teaching and languages, Mark was passionate about social justice and people's rights to participate in organizing and in the democratic process. He served on the Executive Board of American Federation of Teachers-Wisconsin and the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign for a number of years. He participated in and supported many social causes throughout his life.

Mark had many hobbies that evolved over time. He enjoyed backpacking, hiking, skiing, climbing, cycling, and woodworking in his younger years. He developed passions for birdwatching, Saab vehicles, and Wisconsin sports (Brewers, Bucks, Packers, and Badgers). He was always an avid animal lover and at various times had Alaskan Malamutes, Siberian Huskies, and cats. He loved his pets dearly. Spending time outdoors was always a part of his daily life.

He also developed many friends through his tutoring, spending holidays and going to Brewers games with them, and supporting them through challenges in their lives. He loved and made time for his family, friends, and other people.

Mark was preceded in death by his father, Oscar Calvin Evenson, and his mother, Helen Ash Evenson Richter.

He is survived by his brother, Ralph Richter; his sons, Collin (Angela) Evenson, Andrew Evenson and Madeline Sullivan; and his dear friend, Rebecca Payne.

The Celebration of Life will be held from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday January 14, 2023 at GORGEN FUNERAL HOME in Mineral Point, WI.