Mark Scott Schoebel

   Sparkling blue eyes, a warm and ready smile, an incredibly engaging personality, a quick wit, a spellbinding storyteller, a superb animal handler and trainer, the consummate showman, a talented entrepreneur and businessman, a dreamer who accomplished his dreams, an outstanding teacher; a loving and dedicated husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend.  These are just a few highlights accurately describing Mark Schoebel, an incredibly gifted, remarkable and much-loved man, now passed from our lives far too soon.  Hundreds of us....literally from Florida to Alaska, from Maine to Hawaii, grieve his untimely passing and cherish gratefully our fond memories of his wonderful impact on our lives.

   Mark passed away on Thursday, February 23, 2017, at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center in Appleton while undergoing open-heart surgery.  He and his twin sister, Maggie, were born on June 11, 1954, in Fond du Lac, WI, the children of Leslie and Patricia Schoebel.  Mark grew up on a family operated game farm near Princeton, WI, and graduated from Princeton High School in 1972.  He and Alice McAfee, the love of Mark's life, were married in Green Lake, WI, on April 10, 1976, and began a joint career in the wildlife animal business.  Over the years, they built and operated several wildlife parks together and operated a wide variety of animal enterprises throughout the United States.  In the past few years, Mark, Alice and their son Matthew, built and operated the Timbavati Wildlife Park in Wisconsin Dells....their realization of Mark's lifelong dream.

   Mark was a member of the following professional and business organizations; the Zoological Association of America, the Wisconsin Zoo Association (Vice President), the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, the Wisconsin Fair Association, the International Association of Fairs and Festivals, the Feline Conservation Federation and the Baraboo Chamber of Commerce.

    A man of insatiable curiosity, an avid reader, and an astute observer of life around him, Mark never stopped exploring and enjoying the world.  He particularly enjoyed designing, creating and landscaping animal enclosures and displays for his own wildlife parks and for other zoos and parks across the United States.  Among the many achievements of Mark's incredibly productive career were the 4 wildlife parks that he designed, built and operated successfully, including the Timbavati Wildlife Park, the consummation of his career.  Friends and relatives too numerous to count have enjoyed immensely Mark's (sometimes day long) personal tours of his beautiful wildlife parks....fascinated by the quality and beauty of the displays, the variety and magnificence of the animals and Mark's captivating and comprehensive narrative regarding each and every animal, its habits and habitat, its care and feeding, and its own individual peculiarities.

   Mark is survived by his wife of 40 years, Alice McAfee Schoebel; his son, Matthew Schoebel and Matt's wife, Angie Osting Schoebel; his grandchildren Emma and Lane Schoebel; 7 brothers and sisters, Sue (Wayne) Wightman of Fond du Lac, John (Kris) Schoebel of Princeton, Joe (Tina) Schoebel of Montello, his twin sister, Maggie Schoebel of Princeton, Paul (Lisa) Schoebel of Irvine CA, Betsy Ladwig of Princeton, PJ (Wendy) Schoebel of Beaver Dam; and his sister-in-law Susan Schoebel of Las Vegas, NV.  Mark is further survived by 30 nieces and nephews, numerous cousins, a large extended family and countless friends throughout the entire nation.  In addition, he is survived by his many in-laws on the McAfee side of the family....all of whom cherish memories of their friendship with Mark and wonderful time spent with him.  Mark was preceded in death by his parents, Leslie and Patricia Schoebel; his brothers, Michael and Peter Schoebel; also by his son, Benjamin John Schoebel.

    A Funeral Mass for Mark will be held on Thursday, March 2, 2017, at 12:00 p.m., with visitation beginning at 9:00 a.m., at St. James Catholic Church, 315 North Main St., in Neshkoro.  Father Dale Grubba will be conducting the Mass and assisted by Pastor Mark J. Hensley.  A luncheon will follow the service at the church.  In lieu of flowers, if you prefer, donations may be made to the family to continue Mark’s favorite cause of assisting those truly poor and in need of help.  Those donations may be mailed to W583 Eagle Road Neshkoro, WI 54960.  Please visit our website www.wachholzandsons.com to send condolences to the family.

Wachholz and Sons Funeral Home

Sunset Cremation Center in Princeton

Serving the Family, 920-295-6631

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