Mark Gutknecht died peacefully yet unexpectedly Friday, March 12, 2021, at his Clearwater home. He was 53. 
Public visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 16, at Dingmann Funeral Care Chapel in Kimball. A private funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday with Mary Messina serving as the Life Tribute Celebrant. Burial will be held at Concordia Lutheran Cemetery in Fair Haven. The service will be live-streamed on the funeral home website.
Mark Marvin Gutknecht was born April 26, 1967, in St. Cloud to Marvin and MaryJane (Cleveland) Gutknecht. Mark grew up in Fair Haven Township and attended school in Kimball. He was baptized and confirmed at Concordia Lutheran Church in Fair Haven. Over the years, Mark worked as an auto mechanic for Stuve Auto Ranch, Clearwater Tire One, and out of his garage. He also worked as an assembly tech at New Flyer. On July 11, 1987, he was united in marriage to Roxanne Schreiner at Concordia Lutheran Church. They made their home in rural Clearwater where they raised their children. He was a member of CWA Local 7304, and an avid supporter of the Clearwater American Legion Post 323. Mark loved spending time in the outdoors whether it be hunting, fishing, camping, splitting wood, or telling stories around a fire. He liked to attend and compete in demolition derbies, shoot pool, and give friends and family a hard time in his garage. His greatest pride was his family, especially his grandchildren.
Mark was preceded in death by his parents, and grandparents Herman and Martha Gutknecht, and Arthur and Elsie Cleveland.
He is survived by Roxanne, his wife of 33 years, of Clearwater; children Chris Gutknecht (and Alissa Dunn) of Albany, Amanda (and Ben) Scadden of Maple Lake, Ashley (and Mitchell) Donahue of Litchfield, and Justin Jacobs (and Emily Navratil) of Silver Lake; grandchildren Airen and Tucker Gutknecht, Evelyn and Izak Klemmer, Lyla and Owen Scadden, Mikila Rech, and Valarie Donahue; sisters Nancy Schreiner of St. Cloud, and Linda (and Dan) Rosenow of Fair Haven; nieces, nephews, other family members, and friends.
Mark’s children will serve as pallbearers. Arrangements are entrusted with Dingmann Funeral Care Burial & Cremation Services of Kimball.