Mark Gerard “Bert” Werner, 60, of Dedham, passed away Monday, November 7, 2022, on a beautiful still morning at home, surrounded by his family, following a hard-fought 15-month battle with pancreatic cancer.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Friday, November 11, 2022, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church – St. John Paul II Parish in Dedham. The Celebrant will be Fr. Kevin Richter, assisted by Deacon Louis Meiners. Lector for the Funeral Mass will be Joe Behrens. Gift Bearers will be Will Behrens, Hailee Behrens, Isabella Bauer, and Eliza Bauer. Honorary Casket Bearers will be current and former members of the Carroll Fire Department. Casket Bearers will be Mark McCrea, Brian Hathcock, Marty Balukoff, Billy Schultes, Mike Pletchette, Tim Seidl, Neil Goetzinger, and Joe Behrens. Private family burial will be at a later date.
Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll. Additional visitation without greeting the family will be from 9:30-10:15 a.m. on Friday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left at the funeral home or the church for the Dedham American Legion or the Carroll Fire Department.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Mark’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Mark was born on August 28, 1962, in Carroll, Iowa, the son of John “Butch” and Dardi (Bohnenkamp) Werner. He grew up in Dedham and attended Kuemper Catholic High School, graduating with the class of 1981. After high school, he attended and graduated from Hamilton Technical College in Davenport. He then went to work for the Pella Rolscreen Company in Carroll in June of 1983. He worked there for the next 39 years, retiring from Pella Corp in June of 2022.
On October 6, 1984, he was united in marriage with Jackie “Jake” Handlos at Sacred Heart Church in Manning, Iowa. They made their home in Carroll for the next 35 years, before moving to Dedham in 2018. Bert and Jake were blessed with 2 sons, Dustin Michael in 1994 and Jarrett Mark in 1997, both now residing in Dedham. Mark’s boys meant everything to him, and he spent countless hours supporting them in their activities.
Mark joined the Carroll Fire Department in January of 2000, becoming a lieutenant in December of 2010, and eventually a captain in 2012. During this time, he served on numerous committees with the CFD, until his retirement in June of 2018. Mark cherished his time on the CFD and became lifelong friends with many of those he served with.
Mark was a 23-year Charter member, former commander, and huge advocate of the Sons of the American Legion, Post #20 in Dedham.
Mark officiated basketball for 17 seasons, 12 of which with his friend, Dan Pomeroy. He was the line judge on a football officiating crew that included Dan Pomeroy, Jerry Fleshner, and Rod Berg from 1989 to 2014 — 25 years, 30 playoff games, and countless stories…
Growing up in Dedham, and even as an adult, Mark loved playing 16-inch softball. He played for various teams throughout the years, including the Dedham Rookies & Dedham Merchants. Mark never tired of sitting around and sharing old ball stories with his buddies.
Through the years, Mark was an avid Iowa Hawkeye and Cubs baseball fan, just like his old man, Butch Werner. One of his favorite hobbies was working in his yard (Augusta National), which he took great pride in. He loved a good road trip with Jake, his boys, or his buddies, and cheering on the Hawkeyes with a cold Busch Light in hand. Most of all, Mark cherished his family and his wide circle of great friends.
Mark was preceded in death by his father, Butch Werner, his father-in-law, Larry Handlos, and nephew, John Schreck.
Left to honor his memory are his wife of 38 years, Jackie, and his boys, Dustin and Jarrett. He is also survived by his mother, Dardi Werner; his siblings, Lynda (Jim) Bohlander, Bob Werner, and John Mike Werner; mother-in-law, Barb Handlos; sisters and brothers-in-law, Patty & Skip Tanner and Joelle & Joe Behrens, many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and countless friends.
