Mark L. Gutgsell, 85

Mark passed away after a battle with cancer July 25, 2025.

Mark was born in the Coudersport, Pa., hospital to Norman J. and Frances Della Duquette Gutgsell on April 20, 1940. He joined three brothers, Dean, Glenn and Jerry, and one sister, Mary, all who have preceded him in death. His sister, Venita, survives him. His family was well represented in the military. Dean, Navy; Glenn and Jerry, Air Force; Mary, WACS (Women’s Army Corp.) and Mark is a Marine.

Mark was raised on a dairy farm near Germania, Pa. He helped his dad milk cows and do chores. When Mark was about 12, his dad sold the farm and the family moved to Galeton, Pa., where he attended school. He pedaled newspapers to get money to buy cigarettes. He wouldn’t study and stay out of trouble so, in January 1958, he joined the United States Marine Corps. Boy, did they square him away.

After boot camp, Mark was sent to Okinawa for 18 months in a 105-howitzer battalion. Returning to Camp Lejune, he became the battalion armorer. In November 1961, Mark re-enlisted for six more years and transferred to the Air Wing. He joined VMA-342 at Cherry Point, N.C., and became an A4 Skyhawk Plane Captain. In September 1963, the squadron deployed to Boca Chica, Key West, Fla., for the Cuban Missile Crisis. After serving in different squadrons, Mark was in VMFA-314; an F4 Phantom squadron at Iwakuni, Japan, when the squadron was deployed to Da Nang RVN in 1966. The Air Force didn’t like us at Da Nang so the Marines built a Marine Corps Air Station at Chu Lai and the squadron moved down there. Mark spent one and a half years in Vietnam. In November 1967 when his enlistment was up, he elected to be discharged.

Back in Galeton, Mark went to work for the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Water as the forest fire warden. He worked with the foresters marking timber for the timber sales. Great job! Worked for them for 10 years. In the office there was a cute little blond secretary who had two beautiful daughters, Cheryl and Lori. Mark and Louise were married Dec. 7, 1968. Eric soon joined the family in 1969; then Amy in 1971; and Marcie in 1972. In 1979, Mark and Louise divorced and Mark moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

In Coeur d’Alene, Mark went to work for Blue Spruce RV owned by Dave Erickson and learned how to repair RVs. After several years in the RV repair work, he went to work at Crescent Electric as a warehouseman where, after back surgery, he retired in 1999.

In 1983, Mark met Dorothy (Dottie) Kaestner. They spend many wonderful years dancing with the Coeurly Q’s Square Dance Club at Ivalee Dance Hall. Mark and Dottie married Jan. 26, 1985, and spent 40 wonderful years hunting, fishing, RV-ing, camping at the river, baby-sitting grandkids, gardening, going to ball games and attending family reunions around the country. Mark loved riding mules in the back country and camping with a good friend.

Mark and Dottie loved the Lord and belonged to the Wesleyan House of Faith Church.

Mark is survived by his wonderful wife of 40 years, Dorothy (Dottie); three children: Eric; Amy, her husband, Craig, and their children, Brett and Kyle Worthington; and Marcie, all in Pennsylvania; one sister, Venita, her husband, Jerry Myzskowski of Simi Valley, Calif.; and many nieces and nephews.

Mark’s second family, the Kaestners and Harveys, were very dear to him: son Robert and his wife, Susan; son Dan and his wife, Jan; grandchildren: Tyson, Kyle (his wife, Sarah), Cole (his wife, Hannah), Travis (his wife, Jenn), Mandy (her husband, Dale Harvey); and great-grandchildren: Ryan, Jackson, Nicole, Adalie, Ellie, Indie and Oaklie.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to House of Faith (https://url.us.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/fWduC68lxDsoxNnQhpfxs5ji9r?domain=cdahouseoffaith.com) or Hospice of North Idaho, 2290 W. Prairie Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815 (https://url.us.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/pRPCC73myESm9gO3sWhGsoOAZX?domain=hospiceofnorthidaho.org).

A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, at House of Faith Wesleyan Church, 1103 N. Third St., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814. Interment will be in the Germania, Pennsylvania Cemetery.

Yates Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Please visit Mark’s online memorial and sign his guest book at https://url.us.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/F2hdC82nzGujxG7nH2i7syGIBk?domain=yatesfuneralhomes.com.