Mark Edward Thurber, age 69, died in his home in Denver on January 24, 2026. He is survived
by his son, Michael of Denver, his daughter Sara (Ray Black) of Indianapolis, IN, and his brother
John of Anchorage, AK. He was preceded in death by his wife Teresa Ann Durlin, and parents,
Don and Helen.
Born in California in 1956 on his parents’ 8th wedding anniversary. Later that year, the family
moved to Venezuela for Don’s work. This is where Mark spent his early life and started his
schooling (mornings in Spanish and afternoons in English). Don’s career took the family to
numerous locations in Mark’s youth, including New Jersey (where he saw snow for the first
time), California, Venezuela again, and eventually to Aruba. With no high school on the “One
Happy Island”, Mark would attend two different boarding schools in California. After graduating
boarding school, he went on to attend Linfield College where earning his Bachelor’s degree
would pale in comparison to meeting the love of his life, Teresa, whom he would remain deeply
devoted to for the rest of his life even after her passing in 2019.
Mark adored his family. So much so that he nearly froze his fingertips off at one of the first
Broncos games he attended with Teresa’s family (Gene, Nadine, and Rita) in 1980. The
Tropics-raised boy was not prepared for the Colorado snow (yet!). While the Broncos were
Teresa’s passion originally, Mile High became a second home for him as well every fall. Outside
of Mile High, Mark also took on his kid’s interests. He and Michael could chat about planes all
day together, likely stemming from the long hours spent at Centennial airport, first together in
the car where watching the planes would lull baby Michael to sleep, and later on from inside
Perfect Landing where the two would watch planes together while sharing a meal (and
eventually a drink…or two!). Mark and Sara obsessed over soccer together, likely from the
many hours spent at her practices and games as a child (and as an adult!) or the many hours
spent together either watching games on TV at home or in-person at stadiums across America.
Drawn to the outdoors, Mark could be found playing a round of golf with his closest friends, fly
fishing in a mountain stream, deep-sea fishing off Alaska, or tending to his beautiful garden at
home. However, his true passion was being on the water - a love that began with sailing as a
child in the Caribbean and continued throughout his life with shenanigans on Flathead Lake,
first with friends in his youth and later with his wife and kids in his “grown-up” years. Mark also
had more time for his various other hobbies once he retired from Gates Rubber Company after
30 years. These hobbies included reading books (primarily about World War II), cooking up
delicious concoctions, looking at (and buying real estate), and woodworking. Post-retirement he
established his own woodworking shop (aka his garage) and even began designing a wooden
boat similar to the one built with his mom earlier in life.
A celebration of life will take place at Horan & McConaty, 1091 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO,
on Saturday, February 7 at noon. A late lunch reception at a local restaurant will follow with
details to be announced. Flowers can be sent to Horan & McConaty. If you choose, please feel
free to donate in his honor to one of the many causes Mark regularly supported: ACLU of
Colorado, Denver Rescue Mission, and Valley Neighbors of the Flathead.