Mark James McWilliams, age 62 passed away on Thursday October 9, 2025 at William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital with his family by his side. He was born on May 1, 1963 in Madison, WI the son of James McWilliams and Sharon (Shew McWilliams) Payne. Mark graduated from Poynette High School. On July 14, 1984, he was united in marriage to Cheryl Trager. Mark is survived by his wife Cheryl, his son Joshua (Danielle) McWilliams, his daughters, Courtney McWilliams and Mikaela (Brandon) Falkner, his grandchildren Brayden and Rilynn McWilliams, his mother Sharon (Bert) Payne. He is further survived by brother-in-laws Terry (Vicky) Wenger, Rick (Laurie) Wenger, Dale (Teri) Trager, and sister-in-law Brenda (Scott) Perry, a sister Kim (Brian) Sefkar, a brother Jay (Kerry) McWilliams, a half brother Steven (Amanda) Payne and step-brothers Greg (Emily) Payne, John Payne and step-sisters Julie Larson and Donna (Steve) Hoerig and many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father James McWilliams, parent-in-laws; Duaine and Dorothy Trager, grandparents Harold and Velma McWilliams and Benjamin and Arlene Shew, grandparent-in-laws; Emil and Alice Evert and Clifford and Dorothy Trager, a step-brother-in-law David Larson and a nephew-in-law Jesse Wenger.
After graduating high school Mark joined the Army, did his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO and was in the National Guard from 1982-1985, then went full time from 1985-1991. He was a member of the Waunakee Legion Post 360 and served as Commander from around May 2020 - May 2022. He was also a Waunakee Volunteer Firefighter from March 2008 - April 2024 when he retired due to health reasons. Since getting out of the military his full time job has always been a truck driver, driving most recently for Sanimax in Deforest.
Funeral services will be held on Friday Oct. 17 , 2025 at 11:00 a.m at Peace Lutheran Church 701 S. Century Ave Waunakee. Friends may call at the Winn-Cress Funeral Home 5785 Hwy Q Waunakee on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friends may also call at the church on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services. The burial will follow the reception at Vienna Cemetery.
The family would like to thank SSM Health, St Marys Hospital, UW Hospital, Froedtert Hospital, and the VA Hospital for the kindness and support to Mark and his family these past few years.
Winn-Cress Funeral Home
5785 Hwy Q
Waunakee, WI
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