Mark Stern Obituary

Mark E. Stern, M.D. passed away on September 13, 2025 (at 77 years) in Durango, Colorado.

Mark was born November 8, 1947. He grew up in Milwaukee WI, graduated from Washington High School in 1965, and attended the University of Wisconsin.

Dr. Stern's professional life started in Los Angeles, CA. He graduated from the University of Southern California Medical School and was a surgical resident at the USC Medical Center. He served for 2 years in the United States Air Force at Mountain Home Air Force Base. After completing a residency at Loyola University Hospital, Chicago, he began his practice in general and peripheral vascular surgery at the Hospital of the Good Samaritan, Glendale Adventist, and Verdugo Hills hospitals in California.

He and his family lived in La Canada Flintridge, CA until their relocation to Durango, CO in 1995 where he was a general, vascular, and trauma surgeon until 2020. He served both as Chief-of-Staff and Chief-of-Surgery at Mercy Medical Center before his retirement.

Dedication to his medical practice was surpassed only by his devotion to his wife, Kathy, and their family. Kathy was an avid and accomplished English Equestrian and together they built their homestead, KMS (Kathy Mark Stern) Farms in Bayfield, CO. Mark enjoyed working the ranch. In addition, they shared many hobbies together as skiers, international travel, and family vacations. He was a passionate Green Bay Packers Fan, adored his many dogs, and relaxed watching his favorite TV show Jeopardy.

Celebrating his life are his son, Brandon Jacob Stern (wife Anneliese Helen Zemp); step-son, Spencer William Roper (wife Erin Cummins-Roper); his daughters Kimberly Ann Stern and Lindsay Amber Stern; his grandchildren Nolan and Korah Roper, and Charlie Raymond Zemp from Durango, CO, and Madeline Roper from Murfreesboro TN; his sister Debra Stern from The Villages, FL; his nieces Sarah Krajnak and Rebecca Krajnak from Tempe, AZ; and nephew Joshua Krajnak from Brooklyn, NY. Preceding him in death are his loving wife of 43 years, Kathryn Mikkelsen Stern, son Erik David Stern, parents Bill & Yetta Stern from Milwaukee WI, and sister Jill McCullough from Cedarburg WI.

His family wishes to thank the staff of Sunshine Gardens Assisted Living for their caring attention to his needs during his final illness. Services will be held at Mercy Hospice House Gardens on Friday, September 19, 2025 at 12:30 p.m. To honor Mark's memory, donations can be made to Gray Matters/Mercy Hospital Foundation.