Obituary of Mark Anderson

Mark Anderson was born on May 5, 1954, in Prineville, Oregon to Rune Anderson and Clare (Lerza) Anderson. He passed at home on December 13, 2023, with his loving family by his side. 

With Rune being in the lumber industry, working in the woods, the family followed the work to Lily Gap, Calaveras County in 1960.  There they lived in company housing, with Mark and his younger brother, Michael, learning to fish, hunt, swim in the nearby creek, and play in the woods from sun-up to sundown.  Mark attended West Point Elementary School through the 5^th grade, when the family moved to Stasal Avenue in Jackson, again following the lumber industry jobs. Jackson is where Mark called home until his passing on December 13, 2023, after his long and hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer. 

Mark attended Jackson Elementary School and Jackson High School, graduating in 1972 as the student body president. While in junior high and high school, Mark loved his time playing football and was a very proud member of the 1970-71 winning team of the Big Game and undefeated Mother Lode League Champs. Upon graduating, Mark attended Delta Junior College in Stockton where he earned his Associate of Arts Degree in police science. He went on to attend Sacramento State College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in criminal justice in 1978. While a senior in high school, Mark began dating Mardell Bassett, a girl he’d first met during summer swim lessons at the Jackson City Swimming Pool when they were about 10 years old. In November of 1974, they began their 49-year marriage journey, during which time they welcomed two daughters, Kabrina (McPartland) and Heather (Ferris), and three grandchildren, Jessica, John, and Josie McPartland. 

Mark began his law enforcement career with the Jackson Police Department in 1976, moving on to the Amador County Sheriff’s Office in 1980, and retiring as a captain in 2005. During his Sheriff’s Office tenure, in addition to heading up the Operations and Administration Divisions, he was instrumental in several homicide investigations resulting in arrests and convictions. He also served as a member of the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team, the Sheriff’s Swift Water Rescue and Dive Team, and the SWAT Team. Six months after retiring, in November of 2005, Mark had been recruited and hired by the Amador County District Attorney’s Office as an investigator, both in a full-time and later a part-time capacity.  He retired from his local law enforcement career after nearly 38 years of service to his community. 

Outside of his law enforcement career, Mark was a licensed ham radio operator, a licensed private pilot, a certified SCUBA diver, a member of the Civil Air Patrol, an accomplished wood worker, an outdoorsman who loved elk hunting in Colorado. He summited Mt. Shasta and Mt. Whitney and loved hiking the Mokelumne Wilderness.  He was also an all-around handyman, having built spec houses and completing numerous remodels. 

He proudly supported the local youth of Amador County with his donations of custom-made hardwood cutting boards for the “2^nd Generation” fundraisers, his yearly support of the A.C.D.S., and of the Junior Livestock Auctions over the years. Along with his brother, he volunteered for 26 years at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am charity golf tournament. Of all his life and career accomplishments, he was most proud of the family he and Mardell built together, especially his two daughters and his much-loved grandchildren. He enjoyed hosting very large family gatherings every Easter and more recently Christmas Eve, once he had his “dream shop” completed.  He was always ready to lend a helping hand to friends or family and many counted on him.

Mark is survived by his wife, Mardell; daughters, Kabrina McPartland (Mike) of Jackson, and Heather Ferris (Craig) of Minden, Nevada; grandchildren, Jessica, John, and Josie McPartland; brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Nancy Anderson of Reno, Nevada; numerous and much-loved nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.

Donations may be made to the Amador County Community Foundation in support of your favorite local charity. Services will be held on Friday, December 22, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at Daneri’s Mortuary, 415 Broadway, Jackson, CA 95642.