Mark Hennick December 1959 – August 7, 2020 Graduated from St Norbert College 1982, Medical College of Wisconsin 1986. Retired from Marshfield Clinic in 2019 after 34 years of service as a clinician, teacher and hospitalist. Leaving far too early: wife Kathy (Mursau) daughter Leah and sister Molly Zimmer. Joining those who have already departed: parents Dave and Patricia Hennick, sister Martha Buckley, brother Matt Hennick. "The stars are not wanted now; put out every one, Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun, Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood…" (W H Auden) I have lost the person who was my best friend for over 35 years. Brilliant Dedicated Compassionate describe him well. He was definitely not one of the "cool kids"…..ever. And he didn't care. Those who knew him professionally would find it hard to believe that in his youth he was a bit of a tear-away. The result of not being challenged at school and needing to fill the vacuum of time with activities of his own (and his friends) devising. He took a perverse pleasure in outscoring all of his classmates while never trying. He had a lot of fun. He saved the working hard part of life until it became necessary. PROFFESSIONAL Through the years at St. Norbert College he did work hard toward his goal of becoming a physician. He was in the enviable role of knowing exactly what he wanted to do as a career and never wavered from that. The years at Medical College of Wisconsin and residency were likewise years where he continued to work ceaselessly to become the best possible physician. Our families were well accustomed to him missing family events or coming so tired that he could fall asleep sitting on wooden bleachers leaning up against the junction of steel beams and concrete walls. The Marshfield Clinic defined his professional career as a resident in internal medicine, a clinician and teacher, head of the Internal Medicine Residency Program and finally as a hospitalist. In those roles he touched the life of hundreds of people. Colleagues, support staff, nursing staff, residents, and medical students. Teaching was his favorite part of the job followed by caring for patients presenting complicated care needs. His teaching extended to becoming faculty at the University of Wisconsin. The proudest moment of his professional career was being presented the George Magnin Teaching Award. He never stopped learning and trying to improve his medical knowledge. He worked his way through every edition of the MKSAP (Medical Knowledge Self-Assessment Program.) He also completed a leadership course in teaching offered by the University of Wisconsin. Equally important to his outstanding medical knowledge and achievements was his humanity and compassion. He always endeavored to treat all people with respect including nurses and support staff. He was conscientious of taking time to talk with patients and families and to exhibit kindness toward them. The extra effort he made meant that the people he taught, cared for, and worked with respected, admired and appreciated him. PERSONAL Mark liked words and would never use a dozen if he could use a hundred. While his brother Matt hoarded words as a dragon hoards treasure Mark sought to redress the balance and put as many as possible into circulation. He loved to read. Retirement meant he could read a LOT more. So I guess when he wasn't spending words he was collecting them. The last ten years or so he spent a lot of time riding motorcycle through rural Wisconsin. The beauty of the wilderness nourished his soul. When the weather didn't allow riding his motorcycle he spent time doing woodworking and was extremely good at it. In our house he didn't merely install moldings he actually milled them himself. He built some beautiful furniture. This past winter he took some welding classes to expand his creative side. What gave him the most pleasure in life was time with our daughter Leah. When he was director of the residency program his door was covered with photo montages of her and her original art work. He kept a box of goldfish crackers in a desk drawer for her. She loved to go to his office and draw on the white board. She brought so much joy to his life through her effervescent personality, intelligence, talent, and accomplishments. But most importantly she is a good and kind person who will always be a positive influence in the world. That's evidence that he was a successful dad, that his most important role earned a "Well done you." Although she will now have to go on to complete her post graduate work without him, she carries the certain knowledge that he would have been so proud of her. There are hundreds of things I haven't mentioned but will think of in the days to come. I have over three decades of shared experiences to look back on. The hardest part of losing him is losing the chance to do the all the simple little things we wanted to do together. Big events are easy to do with other people or even alone, things like going to a concert or a museum. But things like just spending an afternoon going for a drive through the country, or sitting in the garden of a pub to enjoy a pint, or just sitting in companionable silence on the deck are things that we looked forward to sharing every day. Those were our "big" retirement plans. We looked forward to peace. Now the daughter whom he adored and who filled his life with pride and joy restores meaning, purpose, and order to my life. We shall care for one another. We are working together to replace the lost plans with new plans. We will never forget how important he was to us but we will imagine a new future and work toward it in a way that would have made him happy. The stars, the moon, the sun, the oceans and the woods will not pack it in. So we will work to rejoin them.