Steven J. Mark, 54, of Lake County, Ill., died at 8:35 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010 at South Davis Community Hospital in Bountiful, Utah following a brief illness.

He was born May 23, 1956 in Sioux Falls, S.D. to Edward H. and Donna M. (Tiemann) Mark. He graduated from Saint Joseph Catholic High School, Notre Dame, Ind. and from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. He lived in Chicago for many years and was a long-time employee of Pactiv Corp. of Chicago.

Steven had a life-long interest in photography, especially Western nature subjects, and a passion for aviation. His aviation photos appeared in the Smithsonian Institution’s Air and Space Magazine, and were exhibited at the Experimental Aviation Association’s (EAA) AirVenture Museum during the annual Oshkosh, Wis. air show. He also exhibited at the College of Lake County Illinois, and other Chicago area venues. One of his photos was selected for the EAA’s “Young Eagles” national campaign poster. Steve was a member of EAA chapters 790 and 932.

He was at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah with a number of his brothers as crew chief and to photograph an attempt at the 100cc motorcycle land speed record by their team, Mark Brothers Racing.

Steven was preceded in death by his father, Ed Mark, in April 2008.

Surviving family includes his devoted Barbara Rapchak of Illinois; his mother, Donna Mark of South Bend; brothers and sisters, Catherine (Alfredo Toraño) Mark of Spain, Mary Mark-Herbach of Michigan, Louis Mark of Michigan, Julia Mark of Colorado, John (Vera) Mark of Illinois, Karen Mark of Indiana, Daniel (Carole) Mark of Wyoming, Jacob (Jill) Mark of Indiana and Thomas Mark of Colorado; and nieces and nephews, Raquel, Francisco, Michael, Lane, Elias, Angelina, Sarah, Sophia and Samuel.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Steven Mark will be celebrated by 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010 at Saint Mary Catholic Church, Niles by the Rev. David Otto of the parish.

Committal rites will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. A prayer service will also be held at 7:30 p.m.

Contributions in memory of Steven may be made to the Experimental Aircraft Association, AirVenture Museum or the EAA Young Eagles program.