Obituary of Mark R. Oxley

Mark Robert Oxley, 65, died Monday, February 13, 2017 at the University of Iowa Hospitals after a short illness. Mark was born January 10, 1952 in Mason City, Iowa to Robert and Phyllis Hauptman Oxley. He received his B.S. from Iowa State University and his M.A. from the University of Iowa. He and his wife, Khristen Lawton were married in 1976, and moved to Bellingham, WA, where they both worked for the state and became avid mountaineers. Upon returning to Iowa City, Mark worked as an Electronics Technician for the Department of Internal Medicine at the UIHC for 30 years. Mark never sought the limelight, content to enjoy his family and spend countless hours out-of-doors hiking with his wife and dogs. A true naturalist, he found delight in everyday things-from birdsong at daybreak to tracking stars across the night sky. Mark was a voracious reader of science fiction, history and astronomy. He was a renowned storyteller with an unmatched sense of humor. A lover of gentle jazz. The loss of Mark has left a vacuum in our lives that will be difficult to fill. He will be remembered for his kindness and decency toward everyone he met, and for being a gentleman in every sense of the word. Survivors include his wife, Khristen; their son, Kyp (Sarah) and grandchildren, Mirin and Fynn; his mother, Phyllis Oxley and sisters, Sher (Dave Colstrum) and Angie Oxley; as well as nephews, Jack, Gabe, Jess and John and niece, Hannah. A gathering for family and friends to celebrate Mark’s memory will be held at George’s Buffet in Iowa City on March 12th from 2-5 p.m.