Since being diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare bile duct cancer, in 2013, Mark fought with the kind of courage, perseverance, faith, and determination that had shaped his character, strong-willed to say the least, since he was a child. Despite the cancer becoming inactive after successful treatments, it was followed by the diagnosis of primary sclerosis cholangitis, a type of liver disease. With the constant support and love of his wife, Julia, Mark fought back every day and every step of the way. He never shied away from the obstacles he faced, and he treated any setback as an opportunity to learn, to grow, and to bounce back again. Whether at their home in South Austin or in hospitals—from Houston to California—Mark and Julia never gave up hope, they always prayed for strength, and they found inspiration in each other. At the end of his courageous battle, Mark succumbed to complications from pneumonia, and died peacefully at Seton Medical Center with Julia by his side.
As a military veteran who served his country, first as part of the Marines R.O.T.C. program at Marquette University, and later as a captain in the Air Force, Mark’s bravery and grit were already well-known to those close to him. He was also an avid sportsman, whether that meant completing an Ironman, rooting for the Minnesota Vikings, or hunting with his beloved late springer spaniel, Daffy. He and Julia especially enjoyed the great outdoors; planting vegetables in their backyard garden, going on hikes, and walking their German short-haired pointer, Doc, and springer spaniel, Daisy. When he wasn’t outside, he enjoyed his role as landlord, tending to his rental properties in Minnesota; being a Godfather to nieces Lyla and Ottilie as well as Iain, Conner, and Wyatt Nicol and Bode Grussing; and exploring the world through a long list of documentaries, shows, books, and articles.
Mark was born on July 1, 1977, in Parkers Prairie, Minnesota, as the second of five children to Sue and Wayne Mrnak. He grew up on their family farm in Miltona, Minnesota, and loved playing football, working in the field, fishing, hunting, and doing anything outdoors. Even as a youngster, his siblings remember him as protective and yet adventurous, always with a project to work on or an itinerary of what to do next. He also developed a deep faith and love of learning from an early age, graduating as valedictorian from high school and, in his speech, telling his classmates from his small town to “spread their wings,” which is exactly what Mark did.
He graduated cum laude from Marquette University in Milwaukee and received his J.D. from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was never afraid to make a move, and at different points served as a police officer, in the banking industry, and as an attorney. He moved to Texas in 2011 and joined the Air Force Reserves as a JAG, attached to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. During this time, he settled in Austin, where he served as the Enforcement Director for the Texas Real Estate Commission and was a member of the Young Men’s Business League. It’s also in Austin where he met and married his beautiful wife, Julia.
Mark believed, with conviction, in so many things. He believed in always putting your best foot forward. He believed in the power of learning and exploring the world. He believed in finding strength from many different sources. He believed in saying what he thought and standing behind it. Above all else, Mark believed in the power of prayer and in his relationship with God. Throughout everything, Mark never stopped believing. His motto was always, “Keep moving forward.”
Mark is survived by his wife, Julia Laskowski Mrnak, and their two dogs, Daisy and Doc; his parents, Sue and Wayne Mrnak of Albany, Minnesota; his siblings, Mike Mrnak and wife, Amber, of Edina, Minnesota, Missy Gloege and husband, Justin, of Minnetonka, Minnesota, Mindy Thompson and husband, Eric, of Fargo, North Dakota, and Matt Mrnak and wife, Jenny, of Becker, Minnesota; nieces and nephews Gavin and Harper Mrnak, Lyla and Jackson Gloege, Nolan, Abel, and Isaac Thompson, and Eilidh, Ottilie, and Hettie Mrnak; and many more relatives and friends stretching between Texas and Minnesota. Mark is preceded in death by his grandparents Mabel and Wensel Mrnak and Marvin and Lucille Wall; uncles Dale Mrnak and Jeff Wall; aunt Mary Mrnak; nephew Dylan Gloege; and his beloved springer spaniel, Daffy.
Many doctors, specialists, and nurses helped Mark through his long journey, including Dr. Kasper from Texas Oncology; Dr. Shroff and Dr. Lee from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Dr. Victor, Dr. Lunsford, and the team from Houston Methodist Hospital; Dr. Busuttil and the team from the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center; and Dr. Reddy from the VA. Julia and Mark’s families and friends thank these dedicated professionals for their kindness, time, and ongoing support as well as for recognizing in Mark his incredible will to live.
Visitation will be held Friday, March 23, from 6 to 8 p.m., with a rosary at 7 p.m., at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 6300 West William Cannon Drive. A funeral mass will take place Saturday, March 24, at 1:00 p.m. at St. Austin Catholic Parish, 2026 Guadalupe Street.
