Mark Charles Falb, 79, of Dubuque, Iowa, passed away on September 20, 2026, at home, surrounded by his family.

A celebration of Mark’s life will be held at the Grand River Center in Dubuque, Iowa on Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 3pm — 6pm with a short program at 4:30 p.m. Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road, is assisting the family. Private family internment will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Dubuque, Iowa.

He was born on August 11, 1947, in Postville, Iowa, to John and Honorine Falb. Mark grew up in Postville, the youngest of four children, and worked for his father while growing up, an experience that sparked a lifelong love of cars. He went on to graduate from the University of Iowa in 1969, then began his career with McGladrey, Hendrickson and Pullen before joining the William C. Brown Companies in 1973, rising through the company over the following decades — Director of Operations, Corporate Vice President of Operations, and Executive Vice President — before becoming President and CEO, and later Chairman and CEO, of Kendall Hunt Publishing Company beginning in 1992. Under his leadership, the company remained committed to Dubuque despite offers to relocate, one of many reflections of his deep loyalty to the city he called home. Supporting Dubuque, through both public and private philanthropy, mattered to him throughout his life. Mark met his wife of 58-years, Cheryl (Brown) Falb while a student at the University of Iowa.

Mark’s entrepreneurial drive extended well beyond publishing. He owned and led Westmark, a land development company responsible for properties across Florida, North Carolina, and Montana. Beyond his business career, Mark was a devoted civic leader. He served on the boards of Dubuque Bank and Trust Company, Heartland Financial USA, the University of Dubuque, the Grand Opera House Foundation, Junior Achievement of the Heartland, the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce, the Boys and Girls Club of Dubuque, and Finley Hospital, among others. He was past president and chairman of the Dubuque Golf and Country Club and established a permanent Publisher’s Collection at the University of Dubuque preserving 400 books published by William C. Brown Publishers. In recognition of his decades of business leadership, civic service, and generosity, Mark received the Telegraph Herald’s First Citizen Award on January 1, 2014 — one of the highest honors given to a Dubuque resident.

Mark’s true happy place was the water. His favorite days were spent racing his motorboat across a glass-smooth Lake Michigan in Door County, Wisconsin — sometimes pulling his kids on a tube, sometimes alone — always with a cigar in hand and the music turned up. He treasured his home in Door County, along with a home in Vero Beach, Florida, and he was an avid golfer and fisherman, pursuits he missed dearly once his health no longer allowed them. His love of cars never faded either — his most treasured possession was his 1965 red Corvette convertible, which he generously passed on to his son-in-law, Steven, once he could no longer drive it himself. Mark’s mother was an opera singer, instilling in him a lifelong passion for music. Mark loved his time as a member of the brass quintet The Dubuque Brass, enjoying decades of playing the trumpet in local performances.

An enthusiastic and devoted Iowa Hawkeyes fan, Mark long provided a scholarship for the team’s quarterback and was famous among family for buying the tailgate house he’d long parked in front of near Kinnick Stadium when it came up for sale — springing the purchase on his wife without warning, for fear of losing his spot. He rented the home to University of Iowa medical students and outfitted its detached garage into the perfect Hawkeye tailgating headquarters. Over the years, the University of Iowa repeatedly tried to buy the house back from him, and he always refused.

Mark is survived by his wife, Cheryl (Brown) Falb; his children, Laura (Falb) Chandlee and her husband, Chad Chandlee; Trisha (Falb) London and her husband, Steven London; and Brian (Falb) Harrison and his husband, Shawn Harrison. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Alec, Ana, Leah, and Maren Chandlee; Benjamin and Nina London; and Joshua and Vivian Harrison.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Honorine Falb; and his siblings, Richard Falb, John Falb, and Katherine Gutz. He was also preceded in death by his in-laws, William C. Brown and Eunice (Farley) Brown as well as his brother-in-law, Larry Brown.

Mark’s family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to all the amazing people that cared for Mark, including those at Hospice of Dubuque, Stonehill At Home and last but not least, the incomparable Joyce Cravens.

In honor of Mark’s life, donations to Hospice of Dubuque, Stonehill Communities and the Dubuque Senior High School Music Department are sincerely appreciated.