Mark A. Vitense

MONONA–Mark A. Vitense, age 73, of Monona, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 24, 2017. He was born on Nov. 3, 1943, at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison, the son of William and Veronica (McWilliams) Vitense. He married Maureen E. Roach on Jan. 23, 1965, in Eastman, Wis. Mark graduated from Edgewood High School in 1961. While he began working at First National Bank, he attended and graduated from Madison Business College. Mark had a long career of almost 45 years at First National/US Bank where he held many positions before moving into the Personal Trust Department where he specialized in small, closely held companies. He formed many special relationships with his co-workers and customers. Mark enjoyed sports, cooking, the annual events with the bowling crew, and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and grand-puppies. One of his favorite pastimes was hunting at the Duck Inn Lodge in Prairie du Chien with his buddy, Larry Yeomans. Mark was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church for 61 years, where he has served as a trustee at the church and was on the finance council, endowment fund and scholarship committees. He also was involved in many youth sports organizations in Monona throughout the years. Mark is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 52 years, Maureen of Monona; his children, Lisa M. Hatton of Cottage Grove, Wis., Billy J. (Angela) Vitense of Edmonds, Wash., and Jaime M. (Pete) Gervais of Greenville, Wis.; grandchildren, Brie, Taylor and Chase Hatton, Jax and Bode Vitense, and McKenna and Taryn Gervais. He is also survived by two special nieces, Julie Long of Minneapolis, Minn., and Maureen (Volker) Schlosser Horgen of Switzerland; brothers-in-law, Terry (Emily) Roach and Jeff (Amy) Roach; sisters-in-law, Phyllis (Larry) Yeomans, Yvonnie (Jim) Pitzer, Vicki (Dennis) Lind, Peggy (Wade) Anderson, Sue (John) Moser, Michelle (Jesse) Price and Lori (Jan) Waller; and many other nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; infant sister; sister, Marian L. Long; and son-in-law, Rick E. Hatton. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5101 Schofield St., Monona, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 1, 2017, with Father Chad Droessler and Father John Silva presiding. Burial will be held at Resurrection Cemetery following the service. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Dr., Madison from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Friday March 31, 2017, and also at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Mark's name may be made to Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church or a charity of your choice. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608) 221-5420