Mark Richard "Moose" Venable, 55, of Jackson passed away unexpectedly Thursday, April 22, 2021, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Aug. 1, 1965, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Charles and Linda Hilborn Venable. He and Janet Payne were married April 30, 2011.

Mark was a 1983 graduate of Poplar Bluff (Missouri) High School.

He was a staff sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving honorably from April 16, 1984, to Dec. 30, 1997. He served at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Okinawa, Japan; and Turkey. Many people probably had no idea that Mark served in the Marines because he was a humble, "gentle giant" always willing to help folks.

After his military service, Moose worked nine years for Dutch Enterprises in Jackson, commuting four years from Poplar Bluff to Jackson. In 2007, he became employed with the City of Jackson, first working in the water department and transferring to cemetery maintenance in January 2017. He will be missed by a host of friends, including the morning coffee drinkers at the American Legion Hall.

Other things he enjoyed doing included going to the ocean, fishing, hunting, camping and listening to ACDC. Until recently, Moose kept a bountiful garden, often sharing his produce and canning it. He especially liked to make and can salsa.

Mark attended Connection Point Church in Jackson.

Loving survivors include his wife of almost 10 years, Janet Venable of Jackson; children, Stephanie (Brandon) Dietiker, Zachary Payne and Travis Payne, all of Jackson; grandchildren, Abby and Kirstin; siblings, Kimberly (Stephen) Burridge and Jeffery (Cary) Venable, both of Boonville, Missouri, Terry Venable of Jackson and Chadd (Amy) Venable, Charla Keele and Travis (Kelli) Venable, all of Poplar Bluff; and nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Linda Venable.

Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to service time Monday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

The Rev. Chris Vaught will officiate the funeral service at 6 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Military honors will follow the funeral ceremony.

At a later date, the family will privately gather to inurn Moose's cremated remains in the new niche columbarium at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Online condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com, navigating to Moose's personal obituary page, and clicking on the tribute wall tab.