April 7, 1954 – March 4, 2017
Mark Anton “Leon” Laesch, age 62, passed away peacefully at his home on March 4, 2017 after a year-long battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease. Mark was born April 7, 1954 in Bloomington, Ill. to Daniel Anton Laesch and Alta Lockenvitz Laesch. He graduated from Normal Community High School, Normal, Ill. in 1972 where he was a star athlete. Mark continued his athletic career in college as a member of the Indiana University baseball team and graduated in 1976 where he also earned his MBA.
After college, he worked a short time for Ross Perot at EDS in Plano, Texas before returning home to Bloomington, Ill. to run the family dairy business. During this time, Mark turned his passion for statistics into a business called Golfstat. Mark had been a passionate competitor and follower of sports since he was a young boy playing little league. He improved his batting average in college as a member of the Indiana University baseball team through statistical analysis. Golfstat began as a way to use stats to improve Mark’s golf score and went on to be the exclusive partner of the NCAA for college golf over the last 28 years. With the advancement in technology, Mark’s passion to innovate Golfstat has been integral to the expansion and success of college golf.
A very important part of Mark’s life was his friendships with his Zeta Fiji brothers. Multiple brothers walked this very difficult journey alongside him this past year. It was in his sophomore year at Indiana University Mark decided to join Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and it proved to be one of the most rewarding decisions of his life. Through times spent on the fraternity intramural teams as a multi-sport athlete or just living in the house, Mark literally ended up having over 50 best friends for life. Key to this longevity was the Fiji “Dick the Dog” annual golf tournament (truly the 5th Major of golf) which Mark started and ran for over 40 years. As his health waned and confined to a wheelchair, a proud moment for Mark was being the keynote speaker on faith and the triumph of friendship to over five decades of Zeta Fijis at the recent dedication of their newly constructed fraternity house at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind.
Mark is survived by his three children, Brian Laesch (Chicago, Ill.), Jordan Laesch (Los Angeles, Calif.), and Kelsey Laesch (Indianapolis, Ind.). He is also survived by his fiancée, Jennifer Porter; one sister, Ellen Laesch Dalrymple (David) (Chicago, Ill.); and brother-in-law, Dennis Gieseke. He was preceded in death by his parent; his sister, Diane Gieseke; and brother, Steven Laesch.
Visitation and a Memorial service took place Saturday, March 11 at Second Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis, Ind. Dr. Lewis Galloway officiated.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Mark’s memory to the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) Presidential Scholarship, 1225 W. Main Street, Suite 110, Norman, OK 73071. It benefits academic scholarships of current GCAA member coaches’ children and grandchildren.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Randall & Roberts Funeral Homes.
Condolences: www.randallroberts.com