Mark Desmet

Larchwood, IA

    Mark DeSmet, age 60 of Larchwood, IA died Friday, November 29, 2019 at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD.

     Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM Wednesday, December 4, 2019 at The Church of St. Mary in Larchwood, Iowa with Fr. Francis Makwinja, celebrating. Burial will follow in the Larchwood Cemetery.

     Visitation will be Tuesday, December 3^rd from 5:00 to 7:00 PM with the family present at The Church of St. Mary in Larchwood. There will be a 7:00 PM Vigil service at the church.

   In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials given to the Village Northwest Unlimited of Sheldon, IA. https://www.villagenorthwest.org/donate

     Mark Joseph DeSmet was born April 2, 1959 to Leonard and MaryAnn (Kloiber) DeSmet in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He was raised on a farm near Larchwood, Iowa. He attended and graduated from West Lyon High School in 1977. Following high school, Mark went to college at South Dakota State University, and graduated with his Ag Business degree.

     After graduating college, Mark moved to Temple, Texas, and began his career selling John Deere agricultural equipment. Later, he moved back to the Midwest and continued selling agricultural equipment in Pipestone, Minnesota, and also Sioux Falls, South Dakota. In 1997, he began a twenty-year sales professional position at the John Deere dealership in Doon, Iowa. He was known as “Mr. Green Jeans” by his many friends and customers. Mark also farmed part-time north of Larchwood.

     He was an active member of the Temple Jaycees while living in Texas. After moving back to the Midwest, he became a key member of the Granite Threshermen’s Association and volunteered in the Lyon County Extension Service. In his free time, he enjoyed watching the Larchwood Diamond Baseball games, and singing karaoke.

     Those left to cherish his memory are his siblings, Elaine (Michael) DeCesare of Leland, NC, Tim DeSmet of Sheldon, IA, and Paul (Stacy) DeSmet of Mercersburg, PA.

     He was preceded in death by his parents Mary Ann and Leonard; and his grandparents.