Mark Roger Palmer

Mark Roger Palmer, beloved father, husband, brother, veteran, friend, and passionate engineer, departed from this life on August 19, 2023 at the age of 54. His passing has left an unfillable void in the lives of all who knew him. Yet his legacy, characterized by his service, intellectual curiosity, and unyielding dedication to his family, endures beyond his short time here.

Born in Ogden, Utah, on November 6, 1968, Mark's early life was filled with wonder, family outings, smiles, curiosity, and the occasional grounding. Mark entered college and the field of engineering in his early 30’s which gave him the opportunity to fully challenge his sharp intellect and strong work ethic. As a college student, he successfully juggled his studies, a full-time job, and family responsibilities.  Graduating with honors from Weber State University in 2011, where he later taught engineering, Mark quickly rose in his field, leveraging his creative intellect to bring innovative solutions to challenging engineering questions. His passion was solving difficult problems, and there were few people capable of his level of expertise and insight.  Mark is the embodiment of “it’s never too late to grasp your passion.”

Mark's dedication was not only to his profession but also to his country. He proudly served in the United States Army Military Police.  As a civilian, he worked at Levolor Autoliv, Northrop Grumman, Utah Transit Authority as a radio system engineer, Pacificorp as a telecommunications engineer, LS Technologies as a technical support engineer, and Kiewit Corporation as a senior communications engineer.

Amid his burgeoning career, Mark met the love of his life, Tammy, and they shared a remarkable journey of love. Mark was a pillar of strength and love, fostering a home filled with laughter, love, frequent hijinks, and a deep-seated respect for learning. His devotion to his family was evident in his daily actions and approach to life. Mark was steadfast and loyal, and family and friends always knew they could depend on him.  Mark also was an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoyed motorcycle riding, running half marathons, Spartans, mudders and especially running the trails, four wheeling at the sand dunes, dirt biking, snow biking, fishing and hiking – all of which he did with members of his family. Some of his family’s fondest memories are of those adventures.

Mark is survived by his beautiful wife, Tammy, and their four beloved sons, Calvin Palmer, Ryan Palmer, Alec Johnson (Dessiree), Austin Johnson (Kendal), his three amazing grandchildren, Rafferty (Mother Conner), Jayden (Mother Samantha), and Olive who he enjoyed immensely; and a large and loving family including his father and mother, Roger and Gloria Palmer, and his siblings, Jeff (Crystal), Christopher (Som), and Cindy.  He also had many nieces and nephews.

Mark was a dedicated father, and though he wasn’t always perfect, he was committed to nurturing his family’s potential and encouraging their individual passions. His children will remember him as fun, brave, wise, loving, a reliable confidant, and steadfast role model. He worked to inspire his family to recognize and embrace the importance of integrity, the value of hard work, the joy of play, and the rewards of lifelong learning.  Mark was preceded in death by his sweet niece, Alicia, and many pets who are going to be very happy to see him again.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to Dr. Fisher and the staff at Cancer Treatment Center, Dr. Arango and staff at Utah Cancer Specialists, Tim at McKay-Dee Neuro Rehabilitation, and a huge hug to all those at Intermountain Homecare and Hospice for taking such good care of Mark as he made his transition from this life to the next. We could not have done it without your help, especially Heather Marks nurse and Chris the Chaplain.

Mark Palmer leaves behind a legacy that extends beyond his remarkable professional achievements. His gentle demeanor, infectious smile, wisdom, and even his squint will be dearly missed by those fortunate enough to know him. The lessons he taught, both by word and example, will continue to inspire those who were fortunate enough to have known him.

A celebration of life honoring Mark will be held at The Copper Nickel 2450 Grant Avenue, Ogden, UT 84401, on September 23, 2023 from 11:30-2:00 . The family has asked in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Gliobastoma Donations | Glioblastoma Foundation a charity Mark held close to his heart.

We will remember Mark as a man of intellect: a man of integrity; a devoted father; a loving husband, son, and brother; a trusted friend: and an adventurer who always was seeking the next horizon, the next quest. His memory will be a beacon of inspiration to his loved ones, and his spirit will continue to encourage us to strive for more, to be curious, and to live life with kindness and courage.  Mark faced his illness with bravery, love, and humor, and even at the end, as was evident throughout his life, he was always concerned about the well-being of his family and friends more so than his own. Mark wants his life’s journey to be remembered and not his early death. He leaves us with the lesson that there are smiles rather than tears, hope over despair, love and forgiveness, and new adventures always on the horizon. We will be meeting you on the other side.