VINTON:  Mark Ollinger,  age 49, died Friday, September 18, 2009 at his rural residence following a sudden illness.
      A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 PM, Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vinton with Father David Ambrosy as Celebrant.  Interment will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton.   Friends may call from 4 to 8 PM, Monday, at Phillips Funeral Home, 212 E. 6th St. in Vinton.  To honor Mark's wishes, the casket will remain closed at all times. In lieu of flowers a Memorial Fund has been established.
       Mark was born April 24, 1960 at Marengo, IA to Bernard and Sally (Eichler) Ollinger and graduated from Vinton's Washington High School in 1978.  In his high school years, he had been a drummer with the band 'Joshua" and still enjoyed playing for his family.
        On September 18, 1981 he was united in marriage to Lynda Lea White at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vinton.
         Mark planted and harvested crops and raised cattle as a farmer who truly loved each and every day of farm life - A true steward of the land. He was also passionate about restoring classic vehicles and farm equipment. This hobby gave him great pleasure and his talent and the quality of his effort was admired by many.  Mark was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church. He will be remembered most of all as a loving husband, and father whose family always came first in his life.
           He is survived by his wife, Lynda, daughter, Stephanie and son, Matt, all of Vinton; his parents, Bernard and Sally Ollinger of Vinton; his brother, Craig (Deb) Ollinger of Sugar Grove, IL; his sister, Amy Ollinger of Iowa City; his father and mother-in-law, Marshal and Beverly White of Shellsburg; His brother-in-law, Alan White of Decorah; his sisters-in-law, Laurie (John) Mayhew of Vinton, and Janine (Gale) Rowden of Shellsburg; many nieces and nephews; and numerous friends.
            He was preceded in death by his paternal and maternal grandparents.