Mark Ross Van Nattan

Mark Ross Van Nattan

January 22, 1951 – February 28, 2024

Mark was born in Denver, Colorado, to William and Lois Van Nattan. He attended public schools and graduated from George Washington High School in 1969, followed by studies at the University of Colorado at Denver. Mark was a talented CAD (Computer-Aided Design) technician and worked at several engineering companies in the Denver area. Most recently, he was employed by the City of Wheat Ridge as an Engineering Technician. 

Mark is survived by his sister, Lynn Van Nattan (Jerry Graves), his brother Reid Van Nattan, and his wife, Dianne Howie. 

According to Dianne, “It was a dark and stormy night when I met the man who would be my husband only 43 years later. Mark’s sister, Lynn, and I were working at the old Cosmopolitan Hotel in downtown Denver. Her car wouldn’t start, so she called her brother, Mark, to rescue us, and thus began our friendship. 

And what a gift his friendship was to me! Mark was intelligent, funny, shy, handsome, strong, witty, kind, gentle, and generous.  My family loved him - especially my mom, who had a twinkle in her eye every time she saw him. 

Always a team player, he excelled at many sports including ice hockey, flag football, tennis, softball (“nothin’ soft about it!”), skiing, racket ball, and volleyball. 

A committed Gear Head, Mark cherished his BMW K Bike and his BMW 530i 5-speed sedan and participated in many a Sports Car  Road Rallye. It was always a tough decision when planning one of our many road trips to the National Parks or the west coast: take the Porsche 911 or one of the BMW's? It didn’t matter -- we always had fun!  

Mark inherited a love of astronomy and telescopes from his dad, Bill, who served as president of the Denver Astronomical Society and was chairman of the Denver Planetarium Committee. Mark even had an app on his phone so he could track the International Space Station! Friends were in awe of his knowledge of the mysteries of the universe.  

Mark had a way of raising one eyebrow that was quite comical, and he could recite random movie lines at the drop of a hat. His work shop in the garage was his haven: surrounded by countless tools, he was happy fixing, building and inventing all kinds of things. Always the consummate party host, he loved cooking out on the deck, and sharing leisurely meals with friends and family. And every morning was spent solving as many word puzzles as he possibly could.  

Mark enhanced the lives of everyone he knew, and as his wife, I am ever so grateful that he considered me to be his best friend.”  

Mark will be interred in the family plot at Crown Hill Cemetery, Wheat Ridge, CO, at the family’s convenience. In lieu of flowers or other gifts, please consider a tax deductible donation (PayPal, Debit/Credit cards accepted) via this link to the Van Nattan-Hansen-Anderson Scholarship Fund at the Denver Astronomical Society: 

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=XXBZJ75D64YTY