Mark Ridley Ehrle

Mark was born in Bismarck, ND on June 25, 1957, and departed this life on June 19, 2023. 

Mark’s early years were spent in Wyoming, Colorado, Alaska, and Oklahoma.  He had a great time on camping vacations in the Tetons and Yellowstone with his family.  Mark also enjoyed hunting and target shooting with his dad.

He joined the Marine Corps in 1975 after graduating from Putnam City High School in Oklahoma and was stationed on ships and in Hawaii.  He held the rank of Corporal (E4), serving as Engineer Support in the 8^th Engineering Support Battalion at Camp Lejeune.  He received air crew wing and good conduct medals.  In 1984, Mark joined the Marine Reserves at Buckley Air Force Base as a Sergeant (E5) and again received air crew wing and good conduct medals, as well as a Navy Service medal.  

Upon release from service in the Marines, in 1987 Mark joined the Colorado Army National Guard.  He served from 1987 to 2008, achieving the rank of Master Sergeant.   When Mark’s National Guard unit was called up in 2006, he deployed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  He was listed as a retired reservist in 2008, and fully retired in 2017. 

He was rated as an expert for pistol and rifle and as a rifle sharpshooter, with highest scores, in both the Marines and the Army.   

Mark graduated from the Aurora Police Academy in August 1990 and proudly served as a police officer on the force, Badge #90-14.  He retired from the Aurora police force in 2017. 

He received an Associate Degree of Applied Science-Business Management in 1981.  In 1995, Mark received a Bachelor of Science Business Administration degree from the University of Colorado. 

Mark spent much of his time helping to care for his parents as they aged.

Mark appreciated western art, especially Frederic Remington and Charles Russell.  He had an interest in hunting and reloading.  He also enjoyed biking, photography, reading, eating out, bowling, and seeing movies with friends.  He watched shows as diverse as the Walking Dead and Dr. Pol on TV. 

Mark is survived by his sisters Rona Erickson and Keri Ehrle.  He was preceded in death by their parents, Vance and Marlene Ehrle. 

Mark will be greatly missed by his loving family and his friends.