Mark Douglas Hughes, 73 years of age, known to some as “Mac,” passed away peacefully on September 1, 2026, in Sioux City, Iowa, after a short hospital stay, with his son and daughter-in-law by his side. A Celebration of Life Service will be at 6:00 p.m. Monday, September 7, 2026, at Salem Lutheran Church in Ponca with Pastor Larry Wright officiating. Interment will follow at Salem Lutheran Cemetery of Rural Ponca with Military Honors. Visitation, with family present, will be from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the church Monday evening, prior to the service. Fellowship and refreshments will be at the church following graveside prayers. Mohr Funeral Home of Ponca is assisting the family with arrangements.  Family and friends are encouraged to wear t-shirts and jeans because that is what Mark was most comfortable wearing! In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.

He was born on January 5, 1953, in Newcastle, Nebraska to William "Pinky" and Ruth (Pearson) Hughes. He attended and graduated from Ponca Public Schools before being drafted into the United States Army in 1972 and received his honorable discharge in 1978. Mark, and his brother, built grain bins together in his younger years.  He married Deanna Harder on July 19, 1980, in Elk Point, South Dakota. He worked various maintenance jobs, but his true joy was working on lawn mowers for the people in the community.  

Mark will be remembered with love by those who knew him and shared in his life. Being a quiet man, Mark still enjoyed one-on-one conversations with about anyone.  He was a hard-worker, working most of his life.  He was always there when needed, would do anything for anyone, and was always one call away!  Mark enjoyed walking his dog Kane, working and tinkering in his shop (if there was something in the shop to work on or be repaired, he was out there working on it until it was fixed and complete).

He leaves behind his son, Jeremiah (Brooke) Hughes. He is also survived by his brothers, Ben Hughes, Don (Rhonda) Hughes, Jeff Hughes, and Jim (Peggy) Hughes. Mark is further survived by a large extended family, including Vivian and Alan Kunkel, Tom and Carlene Stark, Virginia and Terry Poulsen, Kathy Thompson, Don and Michelle Merical, Cheryl and Darrell Roland, Tony and Anne Stark, Tammy and Kenton Book, and Teri Harder, along with numerous nieces and nephews who were part of the family circle he cherished.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Deanna Hughes. He was also preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Terry Hughes and Randy Hughes; his sisters-in-law, Shirley Hughes and Sherry Hughes Perrin; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ralph and Betty Stark; his brother-in-law, Kevin “Nard” Harder; and his sister-in-law, Joni Merical.

Mark’s memory will live on in the hearts of his family and friends, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.