Mark Charles Menzel

Mark Charles Menzel passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 27th after a long illness. Mark was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as the oldest son to Howard and Maria Menzel. His parents moved with Mark and his two younger brothers to Santa Barbara in 1954.

The Menzel boys were active and curious as they enjoyed their early childhood exploring their Mesa neighborhood. The open fields that are now Shoreline Park, the ocean bluffs and beaches, and the harbor were their playground. It was this time in his life that Mark developed his initial love of fishing. The family moved to a new home in the Hope Ranch Annex area off Hollister Avenue where Mark and his brothers attended Vieja Valley elementary, La Colina Jr High, and San Marcos High School where Mark graduated in 1968.

Mark was a classic product of the curious 60’s when he enjoyed surfing, epic concerts at UCSB, and all the excitement that Isla Vista could provide to a teenager, including the protests at the Bank of America. After high school, Mark continued to pursue his love of adventure by moving to a small surfing town in Baja California, Mexico. He eventually returned to Santa Barbara where he took classes at SBCC and worked as hotshot firefighter, abalone diver, and City Fireman trainee. Mark moved to Fresno, CA where he attended Cal State Fresno and could pursue his love of fishing throughout the Sierras. At the age of 52, Mark graduated from CSU Fresno with a BS in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance. He later bought a home in Oakhurst, CA outside of Yosemite where his passion for the outdoors and fishing were at his doorstep. Mark was a proud and active member of the Knights of Columbus in Oakhurst where he enjoyed much brotherly love in worshipping and volunteering to help those in need.

Mark was admired for his kind and generous heart, sense of adventure and independence, humor, fortitude, and amazing intellect like no other. He always had a kind and positive word to say to everyone he encountered, even in his most challenging times. He loved and was loved by the families of his brothers Paul (Karen), and Chuck (Candy), with two generations of nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents in 2017.