Mark Spoo, 62, of Golden, CO, passed away unexpectedly on July 21, 2025, in Spirit Lake, IA, while participating in his passion of riding his bike on RAGBRI.
Mark fell in love with RAGBRAI around 2007. By 2010, he had convinced his brother-in-law, Brian Collins, to join him – Mark’s passions had to be everyone else’s, too. His sister, Margie, shuttled Mark and Brian from meet-up points to hotels, restaurants, etc. for three RAGBRAIs. But in 2013, Mark convinced her to join the ride, and she rode a tandem with Brian. So, it was fitting that Mark’s last ride of his life would be RAGBRAI in 2025. After an eight-year hiatus due to health issues, Mark returned on July 21, 2025, to ride a single day of RAGBRAI from Milford to Estherville. During the day, as RAGBRAI riders made history as they left Iowa and entered Minnesota for part of the day’s ride, Mark suffered a fatal heart attack in the saddle. He left us, friends and family alike, in his dust as he pedaled toward new heights.
As with bicycling, Mark relished travelling in the US and abroad. He even combined the two passions when he took his bicycle to see more of England! As the son of an Air Force serviceman, he lived in Turkey and Japan. As an adult, he made numerous trips to England, Germany, Belgium, France, Morocco, India and Australia. Routinely, Mark would travel to graduations, weddings, funerals, hunting trips with cousins, or just to visit (and to talk).
Mark was not timid but always curious. In Casablanca, Mark wanted to eat midday after the restaurants had closed (Margie had told him not to delay). Upon learning of Mark’s plight, an elderly Moroccan gentleman, Joe, invited Mark and Margie to come to his place because all the restaurants were closed at 3:00 pm for the afternoon. Of course, Mark was ready for an adventure and followed Joe to his luxury apartment overlooking the city. Mark and Margie ate and conversed well into the evening with the gentleman (Mark liked to talk and expected Margie to keep up as an interpreter from English to French). Joe looked a little puzzled when Mark departed. Mark returned the day before departing Morocco to give Joe a gift of appreciation and to talk some more. Joe finally had the courage to ask if Mark and Margie were married. He was relieved to learn they were siblings because he had never observed such an odd married couple.
Long before the Moroccan affair, Mark travelled to Australia in 1995 after just online conversations with two young Australian brothers. They remained close friends and went to and from Australia and the US on a regular basis for 30 years. Of course, they also had two-hour phone calls with Mark, but as we all know, that was a minimum for Mark. He saw the brothers marry and have children. Mark even considered moving to Australia, but in the end, he did not leave his beloved Colorado.
Mark was proceeded in death by his parents, Ronald and Esther (née Halligan) Spoo. He is survived by his sister Margie Collins (Brian), niece Erin Lemons (Keith), nephew Sean Collins (Jonny Murphy), two grandnieces Tess and Kirsten Lemons, and grandnephew Jamie Lemons. He is also survived by numerous loving aunts, uncles, and cousins as well as a multitude of dear friends. Mark will be missed by all of those whose lives he touched.
The Robinson Funeral Home in Spirit Lake is assisting the family. Online condolences may be left at www.spiritlakefuneralhome.com
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Mark’s name and sent to the National Kidney Foundation at www.kidneyfund.org