Professor Emeritus Mark E. Waddell
Professor Emeritus Mark E. Waddell
Professor Emeritus Mark E. Waddell passed away Thursday, December 5, 2013, after a ten year struggle with Younger Age Onset Alzheimer's. He was born on March 28, 1951, to James Redmond Waddell and Mary Rogers Waddell in Hayward, CA. In 1966, his family moved to Greendale, WI where he graduated from high school in 1969. He attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison. In 1973, he married JoEllen (nee Speaker) in Green Bay, WI. Mark received his undergraduate degree in Communication Arts and Education. He taught at Lodi High School from 1974 to 1977 and then returned to the University of Wisconsin, Madison for a Master's degree in German Expressionism. He completed his course work for his PhD in American Theatre but chose to change directions and complete a MFA in Direction. In 1980, Mark began his career at UW-Baraboo Sauk County where he taught Communications and Theatre until his retirement in January, 2006. He directed over 60 plays and in 1998 he wrote, directed, and acted in a play for the Wisconsin Sesquicentennial for the Sauk County Historical Society. Mark is survived by his wife of forty years, JoEllen; his two sons, Conor James Waddell (Carrie Heberlie) of Verona and Samuel Jordan Waddell (Madalina Topala) of Plymouth, MN. He had two grandsons, Colin Mark and Cooper James both of Verona. Mark had seven brothers and two sisters, Carolyn (Hugh) Brown of Grants Pass, Oregon, Tim (Allison) Murphy of Savannah, GA, Robert (Janet) Waddell of Minnatonka, MN, Thom Waddell of Oregon, James (Mary) Murphy of Racine, John Waddell of Fresno, CA, Bill Waddell of Fresno, CA, Rick (Mary) Waddell of Nederland, CO and Sue (Morris) Chay of Santa Rosa, CA. He was preceded in death by his father, James Waddell; his mother, Mary Rogers Waddell; his step-mother, Joy Mabbott Murphy Waddell; and his father-in-law, James Speaker of Green Bay. Mark often said he never worked a day in his life because it wasn't work when you loved what you did. He loved to teach, was a beloved teacher at the campus, and he lived to direct plays. His joy in teaching was surpassed only by his love for his family. A Memorial Gathering will be held on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at the Redlin Funeral Home, 401 Madison Ave, Baraboo. Continued Gathering will be held, on Saturday, at the Robert Brown Theater at the UW Baraboo/Sauk County Campus from 3:30-6:30 p.m.In lieu of flowers, we are accepting donations to the Mark Waddell Memorial Scholarship at the UW-Baraboo/Sauk County. More information can be obtained by emailing, brbfriends@uwc.edu.