Since the late 1970’s, Mark has been a pillar of the Winona community. He literally changed the landscape of Winona stone by stone. He owned and operated numerous businesses in the area including Winona Nursery, Valley Floral, West End Greenhouses, Nature’s Course, Sundance Grasses & Perennials, and Architectural Glass & Stone. His memorable commissions include Main Square Block, Fastenal Downtown, Minnesota Marine Art Museum, Signatures Golf Course & Restaurant, Winona State University, St. Mary’s University, Winona Knitting Mills Properties, Dakota Dance Arena at Unity Park, Hetland Properties, St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Wabasha, and countless homes and businesses.

Mark was born in Devil’s Lake, North Dakota in 1951 to Lowell and Marilyn Swart. He graduated from Carrington High School in 1969. Mark got his Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture from North Dakota State University in 1974 and was a proud member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. After a brief stint at Cross Nursery in Apple Valley, Minnesota he moved south to Winona to work for Valley Nursery and eventually created his own wholesale greenhouse business.

In addition to his business ventures, Mark’s passion was the sport of Curling. He got his start at the Galesville Curling Club, then Centerville Curling Club, and eventually LaCrosse Curling Club all out of Wisconsin. Mark curled for over 40 years and competed all over the country in bonspiels. He even curled with some of the U.S. Olympic Curling Team in Fridley, Minnesota. In 2018 he participated in the Arena Curling Nationals at the Utah Olympic Oval in Salt Lake City, Utah. Mark skipped the LaCrosse, Wisconsin team to a 2^nd place finish.

Mark is survived by brothers Ronald (Masako), Edward, and Loren. His children Andrew (Jessica), Joseph (Chrissa), Nicholas (Pakou), Kate (John) and Marc (Theresa) and grandchildren Lucas, Chloe, Cole, and Gianluca. He was preceded in death by his parents Lowell and Marilyn Swart.

Visitation will begin at 12 p.m. Thursday at the church. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Thursday, June 8, 2023, at Wesley United Methodist Church, Winona. 

Interment will be 1 p.m. Saturday, June 10, 2023, at Grace City Cemetery, Grace City, North Dakota.