Mark Anthony Hyler's Obituary
With his wife and children by his side 1st Sgt Mark A. Hyler USMC (Ret) age 66 of Oshkosh, passed away after a brief bout with brain cancer.
Mark Anthony Hyler was born on January 16th 1957 in Oshkosh, to Kenneth “Gordy” Hyler and Martha (Niemuth) Hyler. Mark was the youngest of four kids, Kathy, Karen and Ken (Chief). He attended Oshkosh North High School until his 17th birthday, where with a permission slip from his mother, he did what he dreamed of doing as a young boy, he joined the United States Marine Corps. He would be sent to Boot camp at Marine Corps recruit depot San Diego and upon graduation was cut orders to his follow-on school where he began his training to what would become his military occupational specialty (MOS), 0811 Field Artilleryman, considered the Kings of battle.
In 1977, after an initial three-year, enlistment Mark returned to Oshkosh and began work at Universal Foundry and it was at this time he met and fell in love with Connie Jungwirth, and on March 8, 1980 they married and went on to have two children, Joe and Tina.
In 1983, Mark came to the realization that the Marine Corps never left his system, so he decided it was time to re-enlist and do what he was destined to do, and this is where his career came to life. He excelled, and became proficient in every facet of his new job and eventually became a Section Chief in charge of his own artillery piece, but Marks passion didn’t end with just Firing big guns, he wanted to make a difference and decided to take on one of the hardest jobs in the Marine corps, he wanted to make Marines. Mark became a Drill Instructor at Parris Island South Carolina and began molding recruits into hardened reborn Marines. His family believed this was one of the many highlights in his career. Additionally, his new career would take him all over the globe for peace keeping missions and training until eventually he was tasked with deploying to the sandy dessert of Saudi Arabia in direct support of Operation Desert Storm, where his unit fired their M198 Howitzer cannons into the face of the enemy, repelling the Iraqi assault on the small country of Kuwait, liberating them from Tierney and injustice.
Mark and Connie spent 43 years together, most of which was spent with his family traveling the country, moving from duty station to duty station in support of Mark’s passionate career as a United States Marine. Mark, served 22 proud years and eventually found his way back home to Oshkosh, where In, 2001 Mark retired from active-duty service and being, the motivated hard worker he was. he started another career and spent over 20 years as a delivery driver for Lapham Hickey Steel.
Mark enjoyed time with his family and friends and sometimes he intertwined that time with the “date nights” he and his wife Connie would go on , where a few Coors lights and Jim Beam and cokes would no doubt make the evening entertaining, Mark always wanted to be squared away, with a fresh shave and a haircut, you would never see him without a tucked in shirt and like he would always say “If it has belt loops, it rates a belt”, some military lessons are never forgotten. Mark remained a loyal dedicated American and Marine, remaining Semper Fidelis, (Always Faithful) for the remainder of his life.
Mark is survived by his wife Connie, Son Joe (Jessica Erdman), Daughter Tina (John Pfeiffer), Grandson Jordan, Granddaughter Stella, Sister Katherine Beck (Jim Beck), Half brother’s Kevin, Brian and Steve Hyler, many nieces, nephews, cousins and his beloved chow-chow Lucy.
Mark is preceded in death by his parents, Gordy and Martha, Stepmother Lois Hyler, Stepfather Danny Johnson, Sister Karen Nigl, Brother Ken “Chief” Hyler, Sister-in- law Nancy Hyler, brother in law Jack Clark, Brother in law Dani Wojciechowski, In-laws Bounce and Patsy Jungwirth and infant Granddaughter Marley Blue.
Visitation for Mark will be held Sunday July 30th from 4:00p to 8:00p at Poklasny Funeral home, 870 W. South Park Ave, Oshkosh, WI. A service will be held Monday, July 31st at 11:00a at the funeral home with visitation from 10:00 to 11:00a. Immediately following the service, a horse drawn military Caisson will lead the funeral procession to Sacred Heart Cemetery for burial with full Military honors, where friends and family are all invited to attend.
A special Thank you to the Theda Care Hospice Team and to all the wonderful caring people in our lives, we can not express all of our sincere appreciation for your love and support throughout this difficult time, it means more than you know. All our love
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