Cook County community mourns loss of Mark Abrahamson
May 01, 2025 11:49AM ● By Content Editor
Grand Marais Lion's Club President Pete Kavanaugh (right) introduced Mark Abrahamson (left) as the Citizen of the Year at Fisherman's Picnic in 2024. Photo: Boreal Community Media
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - May 1, 2025
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The Cook County community is mourning the loss of Mark Abrahamson. Mark passed away at his home in Grand Marais on April 30, after recently finding out and beginning treatment for stage 3 esophageal cancer.
Mark was a force in the community, touching many, many people during his time here. After moving to the community in 1984, he spent decades as a nurse for the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and North Shore Health, where he also served as a family liaison and director of nursing assistants. Additionally, he taught nursing at Cook County Higher Education.
He lent his talents and voice to numerous productions at the Grand Marais Playhouse and in his church choir. Additionally, he served as a volunteer host for over 15 years at WTIP Community Radio, where he received the Ampers Volunteer of the Year award in 2020.
Mark was also an avid pepper grower, greeting people with his big smile at the Grand Marais Farmers' Market, and was always willing to provide recommendations for different spicy preferences and tolerances, typically selling out of at least one variety each time.
Skiing was another way Mark gave back to the community. He served as a ski patrol at Lutsen Mountains for over 40 years and was also a ski instructor.
In 2024, he was awarded the Grand Marais Lions Club Citizen of the Year award, following in his parents' footsteps, who were honored with the same award in 2000. At the award ceremony during the 2024 Fisherman's Picnic, Mark thanked the community, and specifically his long-time partner, Steve Byers, for the immense support.
Our friends at WTIP are collecting messages of condolence, stories, and pictures of Mark, which you can submit here.
Mark was a kind-hearted and genuine person who gave back to the community in numerous ways, many of which are listed here, and many of which aren't. He will be greatly missed. From those of us at Boreal Community Media, our thoughts are with all who knew him.
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - May 1, 2025
The Cook County community is mourning the loss of Mark Abrahamson. Mark passed away at his home in Grand Marais on April 30, after recently finding out and beginning treatment for stage 3 esophageal cancer.
Mark was a force in the community, touching many, many people during his time here. After moving to the community in 1984, he spent decades as a nurse for the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and North Shore Health, where he also served as a family liaison and director of nursing assistants. Additionally, he taught nursing at Cook County Higher Education.
He lent his talents and voice to numerous productions at the Grand Marais Playhouse and in his church choir. Additionally, he served as a volunteer host for over 15 years at WTIP Community Radio, where he received the Ampers Volunteer of the Year award in 2020.
Mark was also an avid pepper grower, greeting people with his big smile at the Grand Marais Farmers' Market, and was always willing to provide recommendations for different spicy preferences and tolerances, typically selling out of at least one variety each time.
Skiing was another way Mark gave back to the community. He served as a ski patrol at Lutsen Mountains for over 40 years and was also a ski instructor.
In 2024, he was awarded the Grand Marais Lions Club Citizen of the Year award, following in his parents' footsteps, who were honored with the same award in 2000. At the award ceremony during the 2024 Fisherman's Picnic, Mark thanked the community, and specifically his long-time partner, Steve Byers, for the immense support.
Our friends at WTIP are collecting messages of condolence, stories, and pictures of Mark, which you can submit here.
Mark was a kind-hearted and genuine person who gave back to the community in numerous ways, many of which are listed here, and many of which aren't. He will be greatly missed. From those of us at Boreal Community Media, our thoughts are with all who knew him.
