Mark A. Bissonette – Stewartville

Mark Anthony Bissonette, 91, of Stewartville, MN, died Tuesday, September 14, 2021, at St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester, MN.

Mark was born November 27, 1929, in Delavan, MN to George and Loretta (Gorman) Bissonette. He graduated from Mapleton High School in 1946. In 1950, he graduated from Crosier College in Onamia, MN, with a liberal arts degree. Mark was an Eagle Scout and an Air Scout.

Mark served in the Army as a radio repairman in the Korean War from 1952 to 1955, with active duty in Japan and Korea, returning to the United States as a Staff Sergeant at Fort Devens, MA as a Radio Repair Instructor.  For his service, Mark was awarded the Meritorious Unit Emblem, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Emblem, the Korean Service Medal, the UN Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and two Bronze Stars.

After leaving the Army, Mark started as an Air Traffic Controller in the Aviation Weather Department in Grand Island, NE.  While working here, he picked up his civilian pilot license.

On September 20, 1958, Mark married Susan M. Molohon at St. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church in Mankato, MN.  They lived in Grand Island, NE and Minneapolis, MN until 1960 when they moved to Stewartville, MN and Mark began work at the Rochester Airport. After 26 years of service with the Federal Aviation Administration, Mark retired in 1988.

Mark loved woodworking, flying, model airplanes, jigsaw puzzles, word search puzzles, and fixing just about anything. He was known for his whistle, which he started as a boy mimicking meadowlarks. He was the proud owner of a 1957 Ford Hardtop retractable convertible until he and Susan started their family.

Mark is survived by his wife, Susan, his sons Nathan (Gaylene) Bissonette, Kevin Bissonette, Matt (Cheryl) Bissonette, and Dominic (Sarah) Bissonette, his daughter, Heather (Todd) Ludwig, and his daughter-in-law, Ellen Bissonette; grandchildren Tom, Jon, Kristy, Kaleb, Kody, Karissa, Keira, Madison, Elijah, Aaron, Olivia, Bianca, Mark, Joe, Paul and Matt; and great-grandchildren Jacob, Caleb, Savannah, Aidan, Abbie and Noah.  He is preceded in death by his parents, his three brothers, one sister, and his son Quinn Bissonette.

The memorial mass will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, September 23, 2021, at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Stewartville. Visitation will be held from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Burial will be in Woodland Hills Cemetery in Mankato at a later date.

In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred as online condolences or directly to the family.