Mark Garold Michaelsen

Mark Michaelsen, 66, of Verona, Wisconsin passed away on January 16, 2024. A native of Marshfield, Wisconsin, Mark was fiercely proud of his hometown and to be a University of Wisconsin alumnus. At Marshfield High School, Mark was a swimmer, tennis player, thespian, and competitor on the quiz bowl team. 

Mark worked at Hillsdale College before running for the US House of Representatives in his home district in 1984. He was a dedicated public servant in Lansing, Michigan in the 1990's for Governor John Engler and for State Senator Dale Shugars. He also served Michigan as a property tax appellate official.

Mark then spent several years in Birmingham, Alabama. While in Birmingham he earned a Master of Public Affairs degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In 2006 he returned to Wisconsin to work on the staff of the Wisconsin Legislature.

Mark identified heavily with music, literature, film, and politics and particularly enjoyed sharing encyclopedic knowledge of nearly every song he heard. He was a regular contributor to newspaper columns and think tanks. In his retirement he enjoyed recreational tennis and mountain biking.

Mark was proudly sober since 1998 and was active in the AA community. In his later years, he served at the 511 Alano club in Madison. Mark's sponsorship and mentoring of fellow AA members changed many lives for the better.

Though Mark had an incredible memory, his later life was marked by a decline in clarity of thought. He lived for his last four years at Cedarhurst of Verona.

Mark is preceded in death by his mother, Grace Michaelsen. He is survived by his father, Garold Michaelsen of Lake Wales, FL; sons, Jens (Candice) Michaelsen of Holyoke, MA, and Eric Michaelsen of Albuquerque, NM; as well as by grandchildren: Mya, Calise, Shea, and Frances. He will be missed by friends from politics, government, and academe.

We are planning a service to celebrate the life of Mark G. Michaelsen on Tuesday, July 9th at 11AM at Wesley United Methodist Church located at 211 S. Maple Ave., Marshfield, WI 54449.  He often spoke of his friends and love for Marshfield, especially his high school years.

Remembrances are welcomed by the family.