Mark Edward Zell

Eulogy for Mark Zell

Mark was born in Seattle on July 19, 1947, the son of Edward C. Janet Lund Zell. He graduated from Shoreline High School where he played basketball, played clarinet in the band and was also in one of the school plays.

He graduated from the Lutheran Bible Institute in Seattle where he also played basketball and met his wife of 20 years, Mari Stamness.     

After LBI, he worked for WDOT as a soil analyzer before getting drafted and sent to Vietnam in 1968. Although being 6’6” tall, he was assigned to tank in Vietnam. One day he was bitten by an insect and his arm swelled and he was left behind. That day, the tank he usually was in was hit by explosives. Mark rarely talked about his experience over there but was very proud of his army experience. He finished up his two years of service at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Next, he worked for Augsburg Publishing as a manager trainee and also went to shoreline community college on the GI Bill where he received an associated degree in criminology.

During his 20’s and 30’s he worked as a part time provisional police officer in Edmonds as well as a reserve officer. He also became a whitewater rafting enthusiast in the PNW, doing many rivers numerous times while organizing trips for the First Lutheran Church of Richmond Beach.

In his 40’s and 50’s he worked for security at Boeing.

Mark loved sports and followed his teams closely, whether it was the Timbers (where his brother played for a short while), the Seahawks, the Mariners, the old Seattle Totems Hockey and the Sonics. He was an exuberant fan yelling his support. (an understatement)

Mark loved to wine and dine, especially prime rib. For some restaurants he was a favored customer.

He was tall, dark and handsome. In his 30’s his hair started to go a beautiful silver and later he had his shock of white hair (a family trait).

He loved Jazz and big band music and attended many concerts.

He was a unique individual. A man without guile. He had an innocent quality to his personality and outlook on life. He was always happy to see and hear from his family and friends. He loved to talk and was very outgoing and social

Rest in Peace