Obituary of Mark Joseph Kreizenbeck

Mark Joseph Kreizenbeck of Boise, Idaho died on May 9, 2023 at St. Alphonsus Hospital Cardiac ICU in Boise. He was born in Boise, also at St. Alphonsus Hospital, on December 24, 1941 to Joseph and Margaret Pearl (Blakeslee) Kreizenbeck. He grew up hunting, fishing, and playing baseball. He attended Franklin Elementary, West Jr. High and he graduated from Borah High School, missing 27 days of school his senior year to hunt. His first job was as a bag boy at Albertsons, and he worked his way through college. He attended Boise Junior College and then University of Idaho where he first met his best friend of 60 years, Marvin Hintz; living in the old bomb shelter in bunks stacked 4 high. With so many kids in the dorms and limited bathrooms, he would wake up at 3 am to take his shower in private. Mark liked to play poker and was able to win enough earnings to pay for the laundromat and still have some leftover beer money. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, and was hired by Bechtel Engineering, moving from Moscow to California, then to Kentucky, Connecticut, back to California, then to Arizona to supervise electrical construction of nuclear power plants. He earned his MBA from University of Connecticut, and met his wife of 48 years, Donna, at the local bar called Davey Jones’ Locker. Donna had nice legs and the friend she was sitting with pulled out a cigarette, so Mark asked Donna to dance. Mark and Donna were married in Woodland, Maine in 1974. Mark always wanted to move back home, so after his mother passed away, he settled back in Boise in 1978 working for his brother, Ralph, for a short time and then he started K2 Construction, Inc. in 1980 with a Butler franchise. Mark loved construction, Butler pre-engineered metal buildings and working side by side with his daughter Melanie for the last 20 years. He always treated people with kindness and respect. He thought of his employees as family, and he always remained optimistic in the face of adversity. He showed up every day to work with slacks and a dress shirt, built a reputation in the community for being hard working, honest and ethical, and always a professional. He successfully ran the company until his passing.

Mark was a marvelous card player. He was a member of the Arid Club, where he made many friends, enjoyed winning free lunches, club night and taking home the occasional poker winnings. He and Donna played in a monthly couples’ bridge group, and they often played cards and went to dinner with his best friend from college, Marv and his wife Karen. He was an avid hunter, riding horseback with his hunting buddy Herb every year to one of their favorite hunting spots. He loved hiking, but only if it was off trail and super steep, and many old friends will have stories of Mark’s famous off trail hikes. He maintained a large and very impressive garden every year, a tradition learned from his dad involving lots of rototilling. He harvested his bounty using his mom’s and Aunt’s recipes to create German sauerkraut, pickles, canned peaches, pears, jellies, and jams, corn, potatoes, and carrots which he often shared while pretending to be stingy. He loved to talk and was known for his long winded but worthwhile stories. He adored his daughters and would brag about them to whomever was present. He was the wisest, most supportive, and dependable father, attending all of his daughters’ sporting activities, every life event, and visiting often. He had an unwavering belief in them and their ability to succeed. He was a hero; a perfect dad arming them with emergency car kits, self protection devices, sound advice and independence. He loved to spend time with his grandchildren, cook them his favorite fried chicken and Fly-Off-The-Plate pancakes, and let them climb all over him or cuddle in Papa’s chair. He was a loyal and caring husband, a good friend, and a kind man. He was a mentor to many, many people that worked for him and with him. He was very loved and will be missed tremendously by all his family and friends.

He is survived by Donna Kreizenbeck (wife), Heather Kreizenbeck (daughter), Devin Smith (son-in-law), Melanie Alderson (daughter), Willie Alderson (son-in-law), and his grandchildren Alexandra, Theron, Madeline, and Benjamin, and Ralph Kreizenbeck (brother), several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents Pearl and Joe Kreizenbeck and his brother Robert Kreizenbeck. We will never forget you “PaPa.

Following the graveside service a Celebration of Life will be held at the Arid Club. The family invites all to join them in sharing their memories of Marks life.

In leiu of flowers donations may be made to your favorite charity.