Mark Lyle Franklin

Mark Lyle Franklin ,age 71, of Tucson, Mark passed away on January 1, 2026, after a hard-fought battle with cancer and overcoming a stroke 22 years ago that left his right side paralyzed and resulted in aphasia.

He is survived by his sister Lynne Franklin; his aunt Mary Jane Nowacki; his uncle Bill (Lois) Cain; stepsister Jody (Joe) Fox; cousins Barb Schmidt (Jim Persoon), Jeff Cain, Jay Cain, Jody (Tim) Forret, and Jon Cain; and father’s partner Marilyn Ryan. His many friends include Ed, Maureen, and Sam Noterman. Mark is now with those who loved and have gone before him: his parents Lois and Tom Kindseth, and Lyle Franklin; grandparents Lyndle and Caroline Cain, and Lyle and Marcia Franklin; uncles Ron Nowacki and Harold Reisinger; aunt Phyllis and uncle Bob Schmidt; and former wife Rachel Rice.

Mark loved pushing the envelope. Scaling a church tower to ring its bell (in college). Becoming a fine furniture maker and owning his own business as part of the Alamo Woodworkers Cooperative. Pushing past his physical limitations to live independently on land he loved in the Tucson Mountain foothills. And driving his beloved 2010 red Corvette convertible from Minnesota to Arizona with his left hand and foot.

A celebration of Mark’s life will be held later.

Memorials are preferred to the Alzheimer’s Association in honor of Mark’s mother, Lois.

Alzheimer’s Association--https://www.alz.org