Coach, State Advisor Mark Burgess Passes
We regret to report the passing of longtime SCTP coach and state advisor for Indiana, Mark Burgess, on Monday, December 15. Burgess was active in the shooting sports in Indiana and coach of the Hoosier Daddys shooting team.
Burgess was recently instrumental in helping to facilitate and encourage the formation of the new Indiana SCTP league.
“Mark was a very nice guy, always making jokes and laughing,” said Tom Wondrash, SCTP Director. “He will be sadly missed from our program, his team, and his family.”
On the team’s Facebook page, another of the team’s coaches commented, “He was a great man who would give you the shirt off his back if he thought you needed it, and he was an embodiment of the ROOTS program we preach as coaches. He would gladly drop what he was doing to help someone in need and he always did the job right.”
Burgess’ son Jeffrey posted a loving tribute to his father about his passion for coaching. “Each and every one of you brought so much joy to my father and he looked forward to seeing you all continue to grow in the sport that he loved so much. We all will miss him very much. Please continue to think about all the lessons and advice he gave. It truly was his honor to be your coach. The next time you are out on the field, you call for your bird, pull the trigger just an instant before you think you should and magically that target rises up enough to knock a chip off of it, just know it was probably my Dad, your coach, and your shooting angel giving you just that last bit of help. God bless you all and thank you for filling my Dad’s heart with so much joy while he was your coach.”
Mark Burgess was preceded in death by his wife, Linda Jo Burgess. Survivors include children Jeffrey Burgess and Stephani (Allen) Burgess.
A visitation will be held this Friday, December 19 from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Wilson St. Pierre in Greenwood, IN, with a funeral at the same location on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.