Mark David Theune

Publication Date: August 17, 2011

Mark David Theune

Mark David Theune, age 58, died August 15, 2011 in a diving accident in Lake Michigan. Mark was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on December 3, 1952 to Roland and Marion Theune. He was raised in New Berlin, Wisconsin, attending Seminary High School. Following high school, he attended the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, where he received his Bachelor’s degree in 1974. Mark left Wisconsin and enrolled in Gonzaga University, School of Law. He received his Juris Doctorate in 1980, graduating Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa. That same year he passed the Washington State Bar and served for a time as a law clerk for three judges in Snohomish County. In 1981, he became a par to the law firm of Cohen, Manni, Theune & Manni, LLP, of Oak Harbor. Mark also served as the Prosecuting attorney of the Town of Coupeville. Mark was an accomplished attorney in the areas of personal injury law, family law and criminal law. He also successfully argued several cases before the Washington State Supreme Court. He was also a strong supporter of the underrepresented or the poor who were wrongly convicted and was a supporter of the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit civil rights organization dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry. Mark was a member of the Washington State Bar Association, the Island County Bar Association, the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association, and the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, one of only four members of the Island County Volunteer Lawyer Program and a board member and Secretary for the Island County Law Library. Mark was an expert scuba diver, a sport he began as a young man. 35 years ago, he started diving the lakes of Wisconsin and then became a dive instructor. Moving to Washington, he continued diving and teaching. It was at one of his classes, he met a young diving student, Nancy Hopper, and in 1977, he and Nancy were married. Mark and Nancy continued to share their love of diving, exploring the waters of the west, to Bikini Atoll in the Pacific to the Great Lakes. Mark was a renowned underwater photographer, technical diver and a member of the Maritime Documentation Society’s Board. He and the other members of the association are dedicated to exploring and documenting existing, undiscovered and known historic shipwrecks. At the time of his death, Mark was diving at depths of 300-350 feet with Shipwreck Explorers out of Manistique, MI when the accident occurred. Mark was also a man of very strong faith. He was an active member of St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, of Oak Harbor, serving on the Church Council, as a Sacristan and Eucharistic Minister, on the church remodel committee, as well as many commissions and other committees. Survivors include his wife of 34 years, Nancy of Oak Harbor, by two sisters, Lauralee Ann Gass and husband Christopher of Wisconsin Rapids, WI and Lynn Best and husband Gainey of Centennial, CO and two brothers, Brian Theune and wife Sheila of Southern Pines, NC and David Theune and wife Michele of Vero Beach, FL Viewing will be held at Wallin Funeral Home on Thursday evening from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church on Friday, August 26, 2011 at 11:00am with Rev. Philip Raether as Celebrant. Rites of Committal will follow at Maple Leaf Cemetery. A reception for family and friends will follow at Wallin Funeral Home, 1811 NE 16th Ave. Memorials may be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Ave, Montgomery, Alabama 36104 Friends and family are encouraged to share memories and condolences at www.wallinfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home, Oak Harbor, WA.






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