December 12, 1962 - January 21, 2024
In Loving Memory ~
Mark Allen Bartko, age 61, passed away on Sunday, January 21, 2024. Born December 12, 1962, to Raymond and Frances Bartko, Mark, oldest brother to Shane and Kris Bartko, spent his formative years in Skookumchuck BC.
Mark loved two things more than anything else, his family and skiing. Frequently skipping high school at the first sign of good powder, Mark took every opportunity to strap on a pair of skis.
After Graduating from Selkirk Secondary School in 1980, he worked at the Skookumchuck pulp mill for two years before landing a better job at Mardis Lumber Mill. On December 9, 1988, Mark entered fatherhood with the birth of his oldest daughter, Kandace, and on June 3, 1991, he welcomed his oldest son, Braydon into the family. With two young children, Mark moved on from the lumber mill and got a job as a backwoods logger.
In the Spring of 1997, Mark began dating his long-time crush, Roxanne McCaig. On September 15, 2001, Mark married Roxanne and became the adoring father of her seven-year-old child, Roger. In the fall of 2002, Mark and his family moved to Calgary, and on October 28th of that same year, Ann-Frances McCaig, his youngest daughter, was born.
Even before Ann-Frances could walk, Mark ferried his family to the ski hill every weekend. In 2007, he chose to take his passion for skiing to the next level by becoming a volunteer ski patroller at Norquay.
Mark quickly fell in love with patrolling, and taking only one year off, Mark patrolled for the rest of his life. His devotion to first aid, genuine concern for people, and fifty years of technical skiing experience made him a favourite among the Norquay community.
Mark's work ethic and reputation earned him a volunteer patrolling position for the 2009 Men's World Cup downhill at Lake Louise. The event organizers and staff liked him so much he was invited back every time they held the event.
In 2014, Mark and Roxanne would make the tough decision to separate. On September 19th, 2015, Mark became a grandfather with the birth of his first grandchild, Oliver, and would be blessed with his second grandchild, Theodore, on June 28, 2018.
Mark landed a dream job at the Chinook Valley Ranch in 2021 and would spend his days hay baling, chasing off intrusive bears, stocking the fishing pond, and doing various other outdoor jobs. It was the same work environment he grew up in, and Mark loved every minute of it.
Mark was a kindhearted man who cared deeply for the people around him. He will be missed by his children Kandace Bartko, Braydon (Virginia) Bartko, Roger McCaig, and Ann-Frances McCaig; grandchildren, Oliver and Theodore; father, Raymond; brothers, Shane (Paula) and Kris (Lisa); friend and former wife, Roxanne McCaig; along with his many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
He deeply enriched our lives and is now at rest with his mother, Frances Bartko, whom he loved dearly. A Celebration of Life will be held in mid-March.
Photos, memories, and condolences may be shared with Mark's family through www.evanjstrong.com