Mark H. Schuck

Mark Henry Schuck passed away on March 29, 2024, surrounded by his family after a valiant fight with pancreatic cancer.

 Mark was born on February 28, 1947, to Frank and Marie (Bongaarts) Schuck in Nicollet, MN, the eighth of nine children. He graduated from Nicollet High School in 1965, where he competed on the football, basketball and track and field teams. He was very proud to be the first athlete in the history of Nicollet High School to place in a state championship, taking second in the pole vault at 13 feet. The football team was undefeated his junior and senior years. The basketball team was successful as well, advancing to district runner-up to Mankato High for two years in a row in a one class system. In his senior year, the Nicollet Boys’ Basketball Team was one of five undefeated teams in the state going into tournament play. Throughout his high school career, he was fortunate to have outstanding coaches, including Don Olson, Fran Braunger, Duane Freund, Doug Jensen, and Darryl Miller, as well as outstanding teammates! His coaches were not only talented as coaches, but great mentors, teachers, and close friends. 

Mark went on to Mankato State College and competed on the Cross Country, Basketball, and Track and Field teams where he was a two-time letter winner.  He graduated in 1969 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health and Physical Education and a minor in Social Studies. In 1971 he earned his Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction.

He married his high school sweetheart, Jane Powers, (daughter of Fritz and Jane Powers) on September 2, 1967, and they celebrated 56 years of a happy marriage. Together they had two children, Angie and Kelly. Mark’s brother, Tom, lived with Mark and Jane from 1995, until Tom’s passing in March of 2021. 

Mark’s first eight years of teaching were at Wilson Campus Lab School in Mankato where he taught Physical Education to three-year-olds through seniors. During that time, he was Athletic Director, Head Cross Country Coach, Assistant Boys Basketball Coach to Gene Biewen, and Head Track and Field Coach.  He was fortunate to work with outstanding athletes and faculty members. 

He moved from the lab school to Minnesota State University in 1979, and worked there until 2013. He was Assistant Track and Field Coach to Chuck Petersen, and he went on to become the Head MSU Track and Field Coach from 1998 to 2013. He was also the MSU Head Cross Country Coach for 34 years. During those years at MSU he also served as the Student Relations Coordinator for the College of Allied Health, taught Physical Education courses, and the Intro to Physical Therapy course.  He impacted thousands of high school track and field athletes by organizing the opportunity to compete on the University’s indoor track. He was also the game manager for the MSHSL regional basketball tournaments at MSU for many years. 

During his college coaching tenure, he enjoyed the outstanding accomplishments and performances of all of his athletes.  He is recognized for his coaching legacy at the Minnesota State Athletics Facebook Page: https://msumavericks.com/news/2024/3/30/general-minnesota-state-athletics-mourns-the-loss-of-mark-schuck-1.aspx

He was inducted into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014, and in 2010, he received the MSU Harold J. Fitterer Service Award. 

Mark loved competing no matter what the challenge was. This included noon hour basketball, showing horses, ping pong, or being the last one in the lake for the year. He passed this competitive trait on to his family and his athletes. He particularly loved watching his grandchildren compete in sports and various activities. He enjoyed playing guitar, singing, gardening, playing basketball, pickleball, running, swimming, water skiing, and biking.  He welcomed and entertained many groups at his home – Stony Point.  This included many cross country teams - both college and high school, YMCA camps, and camps for children with exceptionalities.  He also enjoyed showing and raising Pony of America (POA) ponies and Appaloosa horses with his wife, daughters, grandchildren, and sons-in-law. His community service contributions included being president of the Mankato Saddle Club, serving on the finance committee at Holy Family Church, and on the Lake Crystal Area Rec Center Board. He was committed to helping anyone who asked for help.  

Mark was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Marie and his brothers, James, Tom, and an unnamed infant brother. He was also preceded in death  his sister-in-law Kay Schuck (Robert), his sister-in-law, Patty Powers (Mike), his brother-in-law, Al Mogensen (Mary), by his nephew Wes Schuck, his niece Rita Gostonczik, his nephew Mark Gostonczik, his niece Stacy Powers, his niece Margaret Norris, his great grandniece and grandnephew, Adrian and Faralynn Phelps. 

Mark is survived by his wife Jane (Powers) and their two daughters, Angie (Keith Flack) and Kelly (Jeremy Moeller) as well as the grandchildren Olivia, Miles, and Katelin Flack, and Grace and Aidan Moeller. Mark is survived by his siblings Robert F. Schuck (friend Marge Nussbaum), New Ulm, MN, Joan Burt (Clint), Yankton, SD, Mary Gostonczik (Francis), Osage, IA, Donald Schuck (Mary Jane), Paynesville, MN, and Nona Vierkant (Robert), Pine Island, MN. He is survived by his in-laws, Pat Powers (Richard Graham), Fred (Roz) Powers, Mike Powers, Mary Powers, Kate (Jeff) Christopher and Molly (Fred) Fox.  He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Mark has donated his body to the Anatomy Program at the University of Minnesota. 

There will be a visitation on Friday, April 12, 2024, from 4:00 –7:00 p.m. at Northview – North Mankato Mortuary, at 2060 Commerce Drive, North Mankato, MN. A Mass of Remembrance will be held Saturday, April 13 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, 423 West 7^th St., Mankato with an hour visitation ahead of the mass.  If possible, wear your purple and gold!

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Mark Schuck Legacy Endowment.  All funds support scholarships in Mark’s name, benefiting the cross country and track and field athletes at Minnesota State University. Mark had a goal of having an endowment of one million dollars.

Donations can be sent to:

Minnesota State University

Mark Schuck Legacy Endowment

126 Alumni Foundation Center

Mankato, MN 56001