Mark William Ahlborn was born on April 3, 1957 in Warren Ohio to William "Pap" Ahlborn and Joan "Doamie" Hastings Ahlborn and passed away unexpectedly and peacefully in his home on December 15, 2019 in Butte Montana at the age of 62. Mark was fortunate enough to move around from Ohio to Michigan and then to Pennsylvania in his youth. He graduated from Upper Saint Clair High School, Pittsburgh in 1975. After high school Mark began his career as an underground coal miner at the Vesta5 Mine in Vestaburg, PA. In 1977 Mark met his future wife, Karla J. Brombacher. On January 1, 1979 Mark and Karla left Pennsylvania and moved to Winter Park Colorado. They then moved to Greeley Colorado where Karla finished her degree at the University of Northern Colorado. Their next move was to Wallace Idaho where Mark worked at the Sunshine mine as an underground silver miner. Mark and Karla were married in Wallace Idaho on September 5, 1979. They moved to Missoula Montana in 1983 and in October 1984 they welcomed their first child Aynsley. His interest in furthering his career and education in mining lead him to "Harvard on the Hill" Montana Tech in Butte Montana. During this time Mark and Karla welcomed their second child Brant in June 1995. Mark graduated with a degree in Mining Engineering in 1997. From there the world was his mine. Mark mined in Alaska, Ireland, Nevada, Canada, and Mongolia.

Aside from mining, Mark was an accomplished musician and home chef; most of which was inspired by his extensive travels. However, his greatest accomplishment and pride was being a dad. In 2007 Mark and Karla adopted their daughter Callie. A year later they adopted their daughter Hailey. In 2010 they adopted their daughter and son Lily and Will. Not stopping there, they welcomed into their home their final son, Jesse. To him family meant teaching his children that no matter what, "You are who you are and your journey is yours."-Mark.

To those who had the pleasure of being in Mark's presence they knew him as "The King of Fun". Mark had several interests and hobbies including hiking, fishing, camping and the great outdoors and he was a collector and connoisseur of "ugly shirts". Mark was a Jack of all Trades and could fix anything while improving upon the original design. Mark enjoyed sharing all his ideas and thoughts to everybody around whether you listened or not. Mark always asked, "What's going on?" because he cared about others before he cared for himself.

Mark is survived by his wife, Karla, sisters: Sandra Roderick, Jenifer Donnelly, Leslie and Holly Ahlborn. His children: Aynsley, Brant, Jesse, Hailey, Callie, Lily, and Will. His grandchildren: Genevieve, Octavian, Xavier, and Brittany Downey and Jacklyn Jae. His in-laws: John Roderick, Tom Donnelly, J.B. and Karen Brombacher, Bob Brombacher, Carolyn Brombacher, Edward Downey, Kate Reinke, and his mother-in-law Anna Young. His nieces and nephews: Kelly and Hannah Donnelly, William Roderick, and Bria and Jaden Brombacher. Mark was proceeded in death by his parents William and Joan Ahlborn, father-in-law Fred Brombacher, his sister-in-law Barbara Brombacher and his grandparents Mary and Henry Relihan Hastings and Josepha and Ray Ahlborn.

The visitation will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Friday December 27, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. with the Funeral Mass to follow at 11:00 a.m.

In honor of Mark, memorials may be made to Butte Central Education Fund or Holy Spirit Catholic Church.

"Tap 'er Light" and Rest in Peace our King of Fun, Mark Ahlborn.