Mark Henry

Mark R. Henry, 71, died on Friday, May 2, 2025, in a tragic car accident near Rockford, IL that also left his wife, Cherise, in critical condition.

Mark was born on May 30, 1953, in Madison to Robert and Marilyn Henry. “#2 son” (of 4) as his dad used to say. Over the years his ebullient nature and contagious smile made everyone feel like they were his best friend—even when he had just met them.

Mark met his beloved wife, Cherise Kuehl, the way any Wisconsin love story should begin: with cheese curds at Monday night bowling. He asked her out, made her laugh, fed her snacks, and the rest is history. They were married on May 12, 2001, at Chapel of Bells in Reno, Nevada, during a USBC bowling tournament. (Yes, seriously. And yes, it was perfect.)

Cherise recently battled cancer. Mark didn’t just support her during her treatments—he was her personal chef, chauffeur, cheerleader, and co-conspirator in laughter. He took her to every appointment, satisfied her cravings, and turned love into action, one grocery list at a time.

Mark was inducted into the Madison Bowling Hall of Fame in 1999, after bowling more than 13,000 league games. He was a beloved figure in the regional bowling community, known for organizing the Henry Hitter 3-Man Classic Tournament for 35 years. He dreamed up leagues like NFL, Base-bowling and the annual MBA Hall of Fame Pro-Am. His booming voice on the mic, quick wit, and warm presence made him the unofficial mayor of Madison’s bowling scene.

Mark graduated from Queen of Apostles High School in Madison. His early working years started at Bowl-A-Vard Lanes where he evolved into a manager role. He later worked at Eagle Foods, Alpha Omega, and Johnson Health Tech. He retired around 2023, but never from bowling.

In retirement, Mark found joy in sawdust, soil and brats. From his sawdust sanctuary in his mom’s garage, he handcrafted tables, bar tops, bourbon trays, and more—using wood from his own trees. He gave away nearly all his creations to friends and family. Mark’s garden crops turned into canned treasures by Cherise to share with others. His homemade brats were a cherished favorite.

He is survived by his wife Cherise; his mother Marilyn; brothers Darrell (Barb), Gary (Deb), and Greg (Marie); nephew Michael, just before Michael was born, Mark set aside horse race winnings to open his first bank account; and niece Jessica, who captured him best: “Mark made everyone feel like his best friend. But to me, he was my always smiling, goofy, loving Uncle.” Mark was preceded in death by his father, Robert.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to Cherise’s care team at Javon Bea Hospital (Rockford). Continued prayers are very much appreciated.

A PRIVATE family funeral will be held with a live public stream on June 8, 2025, at 3:00pm at the link below.

Ryan Funeral Home Madison - YouTube

A Celebration of Life is being planned, pending Cherise’s recovery, to properly honor Mark with stories, laughter, and “the legacy of Mark Henry”.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to support Cherie's recovery journey at the link below.

Fundraiser by Dodi Kuehl : Support for Cherise Henry

To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com