Mark Howard Burgdorf, of Decorah, Iowa, died of natural causes on Jan. 23, 2015. He was born Aug. 28, 1951 to Howard and Sherry Jordahl Burgdorf in Urbana, Ill. In 1952 the family moved to the Twin Cities, Minn., where his parents fostered his intellect, artistic ability, and love of nature. He attended St. Olaf College for three years but received his real education from life.

Mark moved to Heivly Street in Decorah in 1973. He lived on Franklin Street in Highlandville, Ill., and was the champion of Winnebago, Minn. for more than 15 years; he resided there until his death. He died at Mayo Clinic Hospital, Saint Mary’s Campus in Rochester, Minn. Mark was a silversmith and consummate artist with a creative brilliance and a bit of a self-destructive streak. His interests included rocks, fossils, agates, gems, metals, polarized lenses, molecular structures of various materials, the Upper Iowa River, Lake Superior, Frida Kahlo, crows, the other birds of Iowa, historical preservation, female aviators, cameras, photos, clocks, postcards, stamps, coins, spontaneous art, found objects, plants, roots, stalks, puffballs, morels, coffee, NPR, public TV, politics, religion, his family, and everyone else’s family.

Mark is preceded in death by his mother, Sherry Burgdorf, and his great-aunt Julia. He is survived by his son, Owen Burgdorf-Hibbs, with whom he shared the ability to see the ordinary as extraordinary; his father, Howard Burgdorf; brothers, Eric Burgdorf and wife Kathy, and Andrew Burgdorf and wife Sherilyn; friend, Sherry Berg; friend, Nan Hibbs; nieces, Esther, Rebekah, Hannah, and Amanda Burgdorf ’13; nephew, Michael Burgdorf ’16; and many, many friends.

Memorials may be given to a fund for Owen Burgdorf-Hibbs c/o Decorah Bank & Trust, Decorah, Iowa.