Mark Steven Lohr passed away Wednesday, October 13, 2023 at Niobrara Community Hospital. Services will be held on Thursday, October 19 at 2 p.m. at the Niobrara County Fairgrounds auditorium with a reception at 5:00 PM at the Lusk Country Club.
Mark was born on December 4, 1947 at Casper, Wyoming, to Ted and Garnet Lohr. He attended Lusk schools, graduating in 1966 from Niobrara County High School. In 1970 he graduated with honor from the University of Wyoming with a bachelor’s degree in English and moved on to Cincinnati Bible College and Platte Valley Bible College, where he met Mark Roseberry and Del Hamon. Del and the two Marks joined forces and voices to form the gospel music trio Higher Friends.
When Mark returned to Lusk to preach at both the Church of Christ and the Congregational Church, he served for ten years on the town council and for a term as mayor. He also served on the board of directors of the Wyoming Municipal Power Authority. He managed the family ranch at Kirtley after the deaths of his grandfather, Len Christian, and his father, Ted Lohr.
A devotee of many sports, Mark will be remembered for the many years he spent as statistician for NCHS teams and as sports reporter for the Lusk Herald. He played golf as often as possible, and when seasons didn’t permit, he’d play cards instead. His musical skills were legendary. He could play any kind of piano music, classical, jazz, rag, pop, rock, or gospel.
He was able to share the joy he found in his faith by bringing to the community professional gospel music groups like The Hoppers and Triumphant.
He is survived by his aunt, Doris Redjou, cousin-in-law Donnie Heckert, cousins Donna Lloyd, Terry Davis, Ted Erlewine, Brenda Erlewine, Linda Johnson, Pat Eikenberry, Jamie Dieterich, Carol Jones, and the community of Lusk, which he dearly loved.
Pier Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
