Markalan Thomas Smith

Markalan “Mark” Thomas Smith, of Appleton Wisconsin, died suddenly in Wausau, Wisconsin, on March 12, 2025, at the age of 70. He was doing one of the things he loved – working with others. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and in-law and a friend to many.

Born September 7, 1954, in Dayton, Ohio; Mark was the second child of the late David L. Smith and Alyce L. (Oosterhouse) Smith. He married Ann Elizabeth Ottersen, in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, on July 18, 1977. He met Ann while in high school, and the two maintained a friendship which blossomed into a relationship for many years before making it official. He leaves behind his wife Ann and three children, Kristen Souza (Nick), Amy Barrett (Zach), and David Smith (MJ); five grandchildren; four siblings, a brother Matt (Jan), a sister, Elizabeth (Randy), a brother, Leigh (Beth), and a brother, Stuart (Tammy); and many nieces and nephews.

Mark attended PJ Jacobs High School, in Stevens Point, for three years and was a member of the first graduating class of the brand-new Stevens Point Area High School in 1972. He was a two-year letterman on the varsity basketball team. He then attended and graduated from the University of Kentucky. He passed the certified public accountant exam and began his professional accounting career at The Arthur Anderson accounting firm in Cincinnati, Ohio where the couple moved to begin their family. They called Cincinnati their home for 11 years.

The family eventually moved to DePere, Wisconsin, and then the Fox Valley area, where he continued his work as an accountant for many years with several firms, eventually retiring from Baker Tilly as a partner. While there, he developed and managed the estate planning group until he retired. He was very proud of that group. In retirement, he formed his own consultancy and continued to do the professional work he loved. He was also very active with the Fox Valley Estate Planning Council. His friends and co-workers will always remember his caring heart, his curiosity about them and his desire to let others talk about themselves rather than himself. He was committed to community service throughout his life. Into his retirement, he felt that involvement was important and was very involved in the Appleton Education Foundation, the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, and the Thompson Center on Lourdes.

Mark was THE person to so many people. He was the person people relied upon and asked for advice on multiple fronts. Mark was the person who always had a word of wisdom, an encouraging word, and a listening ear. He was, by nature, generous with his time, his heart, his material things. He would truly, without thinking, do anything for anyone. Mark’s quiet leadership was a model for those around him. He taught through his example.

Mark loved the outdoors. He and Ann completed the goal of golfing at least once in all 50 states. Every year, Mark made it a point to celebrate lifelong friends with a golf trip and outing in Indiana. His ties with those friends were deep, rich and a part of his life. He loved to travel. His newest passion was beginning to travel outside of the USA. He and Ann traveled the United States to many locations to visit with family and most recently explored the Bourbon Trail in Kentucky. Mark was a Green Bay Packer fan, a big gardener, hunter and fisherman.

Mark’s family remembers him as the ‘baby whisperer.’ He so loved being a grandpa. He was also a great father and husband and enjoyed spending time with those that he loved. Mark could seldom go out for an evening and not see someone he knew. For him, if that happened, his quest was to make a new friend! He loved new places to explore; and with his family in tow would find new places to visit. Mark enjoyed working on little projects around his home as well as those of his children. In addition to his love of travel, he enjoyed new adventures with his son David.

As a youth, Mark grew up attending Frame Memorial Presbyterian Church in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and for many years in Appleton was a member of Memorial Presbyterian Church.

To celebrate his life, Mark’s family will greet guests on Wednesday March 19, 2025, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm at Wichmann Funeral Home, 537 N Superior Street, Appleton. Friends and family may gather at the funeral home again on Thursday March 20, 2025, from 9:00am until the funeral service begins at 11:00am.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the following charities that were near and dear to Mark; or the charity of your choice. Samaritan’s Purse, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Tunnel to Towers Foundations.