Mark W. Howell

Mark Wilkinson Howell, 90, of Des Moines, originally of Cumming, Iowa Mark was born on July 18th, 1930, and died on August 27th, 2020. He lived most of his first seventy years on the family farm near Cumming. He served in the Korean War; and attended Iowa State University, and the University of Iowa. He married Elizabeth in 1956, and they were active members of St. Patrick's Irish Settlement Catholic Church and the surrounding community. As Mark's family expanded, so did his life. He was a creative, practical, progressive man. Not only did he build the family home, he also built every piece of furniture in it. He crafted the Pope's chair for John Paul's personal audience at Irish Settlement. Many evenings found him in his wood shop, listening to music and making furniture. If a tractor broke, he fixed it himself, and if he needed a new type of farm equipment, he often just built it. When he needed a way to send his seven children to college, he planted 1000 pine trees for each one, and established the Howell Christmas Tree Farm. He also found time to serve on the Winterset School Board, the Iowa Christmas Tree Growers Board, the St. Patrick's Irish Settlement Parish Council, and was a long-time member of the Des Moines Woodworking Club. When Elizabeth died of cancer in 1998, his heart broke, but he found new love with Pat Kuhns, whom he married in 1999. He moved to Johnston to be with her, where they spent twenty happy years. Mark is survived by his wife, Pat Howell, his brother Craig (Carol), his sister Jean (Jay) Mason; and his blended family of N.Rangarajan, Ann (Bob) Harmon, Fred (Cindy) Howell, Mary (Larry) Howell-Williams, Nick Howell, Susan Howell, Chris (Jenny) Howell, Rita McMullen and Robin (Tim) Cunningham, eleven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth Muelhaupt Howell, his daughter Carolyn Howell-Aiyer, his step-daughter Roxanne Fox, two sisters and a brother. There will be a graveside service for Mark on Tuesday, September 1st, at 2:00, at St. Patrick's Irish Settlement 3396 155th Street, Cumming, Iowa. A socially distant outdoor gathering to celebrate his life will be held immediately after at Howell Tree Farm, 3129 Howell Court, Cumming. Masks are encouraged. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the family, directed to Winterset Community Schools National Honor Society, or to St. Patrick's Irish Settlement.