Date Of Birth: February 26, 1919
Date Of Death: March 1, 2010

Mark Anthony Ertel, 91, passed away on Monday, March 1, 2010. Born in Tipton Indiana on February 26, 1919, he was the son of Edward and Josephine Ertel. Mark attended Tipton High School where he played basketball. The year he graduated, 1936, his team was undefeated in regular season play. After high school, Mark attended Notre Dame University from 1936 through 1940. During this time he played basketball on the varsity squad three of the four years he played there, and in his senior year (1940) he was named captain of the team. During that same year, Mark was selected to the College All Star Team. Following graduation from Notre Dame, Mark played basketball professionally for the Indianapolis Kautsky’s All Americans from 1940 through 1943. Mark was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1985 in recognition of his many accomplishments and contributions to the game. Mark joined the Perfect Circle Corporation in 1940; however, his employment was interrupted by his military service in the Navy from 1944 through 1946. While stationed in Miami, he played on the U.S. Navy Officer’s basketball team that won 36 of 38 games. Mark served as the Executive Officer of PT boat #228 in squadron #17. He served in the South Pacific and was stationed in the Philippines. When he returned home, Mark returned to his job with the Perfect Circle Company. In 1963 Dana Corporation acquired Perfect Circle and Mark continued his career with them. He held several Plant Manager positions with his final position being General Manager of the Material Supply Division of Dana Corporation. Mark retired from Dana Corporation after 39 years of service. He and Artilla enjoyed many winters in Florida with their “snow bird” friends. Following his Dana career, Mark worked as a Manufacturing Consultant for the William Jackson Consulting Company, as well as attaining his Brokers License in Real Estate and working for the Lingle Real Estate Company in Rushville. While living there he and enjoyed golfing at the Elks Country Club. He was also an avid fisherman, a hobby he and his son Gary shared. Mark believed strongly in mentoring and community service. He served in many organizations including the Elks, Rotary, and Boy Scouts of America. For 13 years he was a volunteer coach for Jr. High Basketball at St. Johns in Tipton where he was instrumental in raising funds to build their gymnasium. He spent many hours mentoring not only the youth of the community but also those who worked for him in his professional career. Mark is survived by his wife Artilla, his daughters; Mary Ann (Ron) Bennett and Susan (Chuck) Jennings; his sons Gary (Sandra) Ertel, Greg (Linda) Clevenger, and Lance (Fran) Clevenger; his sister Betty Moore and his brother Jim (Betty) Ertel; 13 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. Mark was preceded in death by an infant daughter Karen Sue Ertel, and sisters Joan Stodgell and Rita Cage. A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Monica Catholic Church, 6131 North Michigan Rd., Indianapolis at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 6, 2010, with visitation preceding the mass starting at 10:00 AM. Graveside service will be at Fairview Cemetery, Tipton, Indiana. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the youth programs at St. Monica Catholic Church or St. John Catholic Church in Tipton.