A funeral service for Mark Joseph Virant, 74, was held at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, November 3, 2023 at the First Christian Church in Wheatland with Pastor Rick Carroll officiating. Interment was in the Wheatland Cemetery with military honors accorded by Ora Call American Legion Post # 10 and Laramie Peak VFW Post #3558.
Mark passed away on Sunday, October 29, 2023 at the Platte County Legacy Home in Wheatland.
Mark was born on Tuesday, October 18, 1949 in Denver, Colorado to Joseph and June (Bermbach) Virant.
Mark attended country school until the fifth grade when he came to town to attend public school in Wheatland and graduated from Wheatland High School in 1968. He was then drafted into the United States Army, serving in Vietnam. After returning, he attended Casper College with his friend, Tim Weaver, for a semester. Mark then went to work in North Dakota as a lineman for a time. He also spent a short time working at Wyoming Automotive in Casper before returning to Wheatland to work at an auto parts store, which he then bought in 1986. He ran the store until he retired and sold it to Jeff McGuire in 2009. Mark also took up farming in 1996.
Mark married Elizabeth (Wagner) Virant in 1978. After her passing in 1987, Mark married Linda (Smith) Virant on February 10, 1990 in Wheatland.
Mark enjoyed hunting, fishing, restoring cars, and wood working. He was a member of the American Legion, VFW, and was a volunteer firefighter.
Mark is survived by his wife, Linda Virant, of Wheatland; children, Mandy (Brett) Binning, Lacey (James) Bruckner, Jeffery McGuire, and Michelle (Mark) Birkle; sister, Melanie (Darel) Brown; brother, Zane Shaffer; numerous nieces and nephews; grandchildren, Rylie Bruckner, Ali Bruckner, Dustin Hanks, and Braxton Bitner; and two great grandchildren.
Mark was preceded in death by his father, Joseph C. Virant in 1953; mother, June (Bermbach) Virant Ludeman on November 5, 1979; and his first wife, Elizabeth Louise (Wagner) Virant on January 10, 1987.
Serving as pallbearers were Jeff McGuire, Brett Binning, James Bruckner, Carey Shorter, Craig Brown, and Mark Birkle. Honorary pallbearers were Tim Weaver, Rodger Schroeder, Zane Shaffer, Darel Brown, and Mike Brown.
Gorman Funeral Homes - Platte Chapel was in charge of the arrangements.
Condolences can be left for the family at www.gormanfh.com
