Mark Alan Challis

Mark Alan Challis was born on July 29, 1951, and died on March 23, 2025. Mark grew up primarily in West Des Moines and was a 1969 graduate of WDM Valley High School. He later graduated from Upper Iowa University with a degree in Management and Marketing.

Mark took great pride in being a VHS grad and attended every class reunion, always looking forward to catching up with old friends. Being highly social and outgoing, Mark also stayed in touch with several friends he met during the years of his childhood when his family lived in Austin, TX.

Throughout junior high and high school, Mark was active in student council and debate, which suited him well, never being someone who was shy about offering his opinion on just about anything, especially politics.

Along those lines, Mark wrote frequent “Letters to the Editor” and submitted them to publications such as “Time”, “Newsweek”, “USA Today”, and of course his beloved, “Des Moines Register”.

In addition to opinion writing, Mark was also very proud of his career as a licensed Private Investigator. Over the years, he worked on several high-profile cases and developed trusted relationships with many local attorneys.

In his later years, Mark could often be found at any number of restaurants (for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or all three in one day), walking around the track at Mercy One Health and Fitness, attending Iowa Hawkeye and Drake Bulldog sporting events, or serving within the Democratic Party as a Precinct Chair for caucuses.

Above anything else, Mark loved to play the piano and organ for people, particularly seniors, and in the final dozen or so years prior to his passing, Mark performed countless concerts at nursing homes, senior centers, etc., where he was always a hit.

Mark is survived by his sister, Marsha Goodman of Fox Lake, Illinois, his nephew Josh (Carrie) Goodman of Des Moines, his niece Courtney (Justin) Laib of Round Lake Beach, Illinois, as well as three great-nephews (Lincoln, Cooper, and Soren) and two great nieces (Asher and Emery).

Per Mark’s wishes, no services will be held.

We (his family) want to express our gratitude to the residents of the Frank W. Smith Retirement Center, where he lived out his final years.

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