Remembering Mark O. Hagenbuch

Seventy-one years ago, a baby was born to farmers in Limestoneville, PA. In the years to follow, that baby — Mark Odis Hagenbuch — would grow up and dedicate his life to educating the children of Pennsylvania. He would become a teacher, a principal, and a servant leader. On February 25, 2025, Mark passed away at home with his family.
Mark was born on June 19, 1953, to Homer and Irene (Faus) Hagenbuch, the youngest of four children. He spent his early childhood milking cows, learning to play the piano, and — after a family friend got him his first library card — reading books from the Thomas Beaver Free Library. He never stopped reading.
When Mark was eleven years old, he became the church organist at Oak Grove Lutheran Church, Danville, where he would play each Sunday for a congregation of his parents, siblings, grandparents, and many uncles, aunts, and cousins. Sundays after church, his Uncle Perce would take him on walks around the cemetery and tell stories about family members who had passed on. These walks would spark another lifelong passion of Mark’s: family genealogy. One of Mark’s legacies is his tireless genealogical research and writing, which can be found at www.hagenbuch.org.
Mark’s parents moved off the farm to Montandon when he was a teenager, so he spent his high school years at Milton High, where he excelled in History and English classes. When he wasn’t at school, he worked hard loading tomatoes for Chef Boy-Ar-Dee, and as a stock boy at J.R. Sheets General Store. His job at Sheets’ Store taught him to be personable with new people and to manage situations with a level head, which were traits he would put to good use throughout his life and career.
Mark had a silliness and outgoingness to him, an all-around joy of life that led him to be elected Milton High’s Class Clown of 1971. He was in the school play, played bass drum in the band, and read all sorts of books in his spare time, especially J.R.R. Tolkien and history books.
After graduation, Mark went on to study elementary education at Lock Haven University, where he joined the Sigma Pi fraternity and had the privilege of student teaching at the progressive Akeley Model School. The summer of 1972, he took a job at the Milton Shoe Factory, where he met and worked alongside a beautiful young woman with long brown hair. Her name was Linda Faye Gutshall, and she would become his wife of 50 years. Mark and Linda were married in a candlelit service on December 21, 1974, at St. John’s “Delaware Run” Lutheran Church, Watsontown.
Shortly after the wedding, Mark took his first job as a teacher at Dalmatia Elementary in the Line Mountain School District. While teaching, he continued studying and earned his Master’s in Education Administration from Bucknell University in 1979.
Mark and Linda welcomed three children into the world: Andrew, Katie, and Julie. Together, they built a home full of creativity, humor, and homemade food. Mark was especially known to bake a delicious apple pie. He and Linda were adventurous, traveling as often as was practical. They camped across Europe and Morocco the summer of 1979, went “junking” in Germany, and saw flamenco in Seville. After the kids came along, the family set out on a five week road trip across the United States to camp in the National Parks. When they reached California, Mark and Linda held their young children’s hands as they all felt the waves of the Pacific Ocean for the first time in their lives.
In 1987, Mark got a job as principal in the Northern York County School District in Dillsburg, PA — first at Northern Elementary, followed by South Mountain Elementary. He spent two decades managing his schools with patience and pride. His passion for educational enrichment led him to create community programs at his schools like Heritage Days, Piano Club, and Storytelling around the Campfire. He created the Socrates Club, a district-wide program for teachers to get together and discuss the philosophy of education. But perhaps his biggest impact was his particular style of leadership, encouraging his teachers and students with a firm yet caring spirit. He could often be found greeting students in the morning as they stepped off the bus, and took particular care to greet the district’s disabled students, making sure to welcome each child by name.
In 1999, Mark became the first principal of the newly built South Mountain Elementary. During its construction, he advocated for greater funding to go toward the purchase of hundreds more books for the school library. His efforts were successful, and for his advocacy he was named Friend of the School Library by Cumberland County School Librarians Association and Northern School District.
During his time as principal, Mark worked hard to earn his Doctorate of Education from the Pennsylvania State University, focusing his dissertation on the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. For a farm boy turned first-generation college student, earning his doctoral degree was no small feat. He wore this title with pride.

Mark O. Hagenbuch (right) with his wife and children on the second day of a cross-country trip, 1993
Mark retired from public education in 2008, after which he began supervising student teachers at Messiah University and teaching at Messiah Village’s Pathways Institute. In retirement, he was able to devote even more time to organizations he cherished: the Northern York County Historical and Preservation Society (of which he was president, secretary, chairman, and board member over the course of two decades); Dillsburg Arts and Revitalization Council; and the Scottish Society of Harrisburg. He had a passion for educating others on the history of early America, which he did as a historical reenactor with the organizations Muskets of the Crown and the British Brigade. He served as Deputy Chaplain of the British Brigade, a role he filled by sharing scripture and sermons on Sunday mornings at historical encampments. His friends in the reenacting community knew him as Malcolm.
In 2012, Mark was awarded the SAGE Award by Messiah Pathways and Harrisburg Magazine. And after his cancer diagnosis, he raised over $75,000 for research via the organization ZERO Prostate Cancer.
Mark is survived by the love of his life, Linda Faye Hagenbuch, his children Andrew (Sara) Hagenbuch, Katie (Nelson) Emig, and Julie Hagenbuch (Eddy López), as well as his beloved grandchildren: Hadley, Ada, William, Henry, and Josefina. He is also survived by his siblings, Barbara Huffman, Bob (Marcia) Hagenbuch, and David (Niki) Hagenbuch. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his brother-in-law, Tom Huffman, Sr.
Mark spent his life being a servant and a leader in his community, and he would like everyone to know that they, too, can do good things for society. One of his favorite quotes was by the great educator and abolitionist Horace Mann, who said, “Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity.”
A funeral service will be held at 11am on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 6590 Musser Lane, Watsontown.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Dr. Mark O. Hagenbuch Living History Scholarship Fund, c/o TFEC, 200 N. 3rd Street, 8th floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101. Click here to donate online to the scholarship fund.
Many will miss Mark. He was a very educated, intelligent, and fascinating person. We will remember times at the cabin, sharing meals together, and swimming at his home with family together.
Our thoughts are with the family now as they share these memories and cherish them always.
Sincerely,
Marge and Keith Mowery
Thank you, Marge and Keith. We appreciate the memories and look forward to many more together.
Andrew, I’m so sorry to hear about your dad. I’m a school librarian now, so I love that he was a reader and an educator. I remember that he did historical reenactments! He sounds like a genuinely cool, kind man. I’ll be thinking of you and your family.
Hi Kali. It’s so nice to hear from you. I have fallen out of touch with so many people from college, and yet I have heard from you, Amy, Meghan, and Jill during the past few days. That means a lot. Dad’s interest in reenacting is how I ended up wearing a kilt at parties a few times 🙂 A few months ago I was going through stuff at my parents’ and found the huge color photo of Jill with me in the background. I think you had printed it and given it to me? I am happy to hear that you are a school librarian now. Dad, regardless of his personal tastes or opinions, deferred to his librarians to manage their collections and fought for their choices. Thank you again for writing, Kali.
I knew him as Odis. I have memories to numerous to recount that they will never be forgotten. I have a lot of thoughts right now but not many words. Bless you brother and your family!
One of my favorite teachers ever – truly a great loss!
He gave me many good memories while being in his classroom. Fifty nifty, saving the flag, class trip to the capital to be part of the flag ceremony. Thank you for teaching me! Rest in peace kind sir!
I was blessed to have Mr. Hagenbuch as my fifth grade teacher. He instilled in me a love for history, for music, and in the end, a love for teaching. He was always my favorite and I think of him often when I teach. He was and is an inspiration to many of us.
Dear Andrew, Linda and family: So sorry to hear about your loss but Mark’s life was a life well lived. He touched so many lives in positive ways. Those are the things to reflect upon and remember. Nevin and Linda Taylor
Hi Dave. Sorry we have to connect after all this time for this sad news, but still good to hear from you. Your brother certainly had a life well lived. My sympathies to his family and friends.
My deepest condolences to the entire family. I connected with Mark 10 years ago, seeking information about our family. Marc and Andrew were able to provide family history that connected my family tree. He was always so helpful, always pleasant, I am so sorry for your family‘s loss.
What a memorable lifetime..and you got the privilege of sharing so much of it with him. I know they get WiFi in heaven, so I am sure he has read every word and has pressed the subscription key!
My condolences to the family. I was honored to know Mark as a young girl and again in our retirement years. I admired his love of people and history and envied his story-telling skill. Rest in peace, my friend.
I never got to meet Mark but enjoyed all the family history accounts he researched and shared with his many Hagenbuch cousins. What an amazing man and inspiring life.
Andrew,
I had the pleasure of speaking with Mark several times over the past few years. His was a life well lived.
I had just met the Hagenbach family this summer when the reunion was at my home church, Hidlay. I was welcomed and very excited about our ancestry. I’m sorry to have lost a cousin but am glad I have the rest of you all. Hugs to everyone
It was my distinct pleasure to meet Mark years ago when he visited my parents first then my brother and I in Carlisle. For sure Mark gave us so much information that inspired me to continue in my quest to seek more ancestry. I was privileged to get to the Hagenbuch reunion with my son and daughter-in-law this past June to see Mark and his family. Andrew was an excellent host and leader for the day!
It was my distinct privilege to have known such a gifted man so steeped in genealogy that he inspired me to learn more of my ancestry. May God strengthen and comfort his family!
On a personal level, as well as on behalf of the Fort Loudoun Historical Society, I offer our deepest condolences for the loss of a husband, father, and great friend. Mark’s presence at many of our events at Fort Loudoun Historical Society Site always brought a special touch to everything we did. From his deeply moving, humorous, and incredible presentation of “Address to a Haggis” at one of our Scottish events, the Sunday services he gave on several occasions, to the simple yet wonderfully elegant fellowship and camaraderie while sitting by the fire on so many occasions, we were truly blessed with his presence. We will miss you deeply, “Malcolm MacWilliam”. We’ll be sure to raise a glass to your honor at our events, and I have no doubt we’ll feel your presence among us, and looking skyward, see you smiling down upon us. From all of us at the Fort Loudoun Historic Site, may you rest in peace my friend. You will be missed.
I am both a pastor and columnist. The following is the column I submitted for the local paper here in Susquehanna County. The paper published this piece today, March 26, 2025. I wrote it to honor Mark. It’s titled “Identity Theft.” I didn’t know who to send this to, but I trust this is an appropriate place to share my work.
Identity theft
He held a piece of my identity.
And he enjoyed it.
Actually, I think he loved it.
I’m not speaking of someone stealing my name to create something false or even illegal. I’m speaking of Mark Odis Hagenbuch, a distant (or perhaps not so distant) altruist who not only shared my last name but also held and shared passions in education, philosophy, culture, creativity, and other humanitarian pursuits including genealogy.
Mark’s talent in family lines connected us.
Or almost connected us.
There was a plan to meet this summer at a cemetery where a Hagenbuch that connected us was buried. Unfortunately, that meeting will not happen. Mark passed away in February 2025.
I wanted to know who Mark was. I wanted to know who we were. I wanted him to tell me that one of his five grandchildren was named William. With this, I wanted to ruminate on the gift of perhaps one day meeting someone who held with me our name.
Not many of us are named William Hagenbuch.
This column bubbled up within me as I learned more about Mark through an account that thoughtfully traced his philanthropic life. In one moment, I found myself aligning with Mark. In the next moment, I sadly realized I’d never hear of that connection from Mark himself.
I pray we all find ourselves as this 40-day season of Lent continues. Yes, Lent focuses on Jesus and His journey to the cross. There is no question here, no misdirection! We intentionally enter the stories that lead us to Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem on the day we call Palm Sunday. Holy Week follows.
I realize in Mark’s recent passing that Lent is also about us. Lent is about how we connect to Jesus.
Jesus never came to earth, lived, loved, laughed, suffered, bled, died, and rose again for Himself only. He did these acts for us and with us in mind—always. In fact, God sent His Son so that we would not just know but also connect personally, poignantly, and profoundly to God on the most intimate level.
This intimate level, as Mark understood it in his tireless energy of genealogy, connected us. All of us. Not just this Hagenbuch clan, but ALL of us.
In the ESV, Ephesians 2:19-22 reads what Mark lived. Here, the Apostle Paul writes, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”
When we not just read but own these verses as part of the very DNA within each of us, something good and sweet and true percolates. We all have a place, a connection, and identity.
As a culture these days, an explicit and implicit mantra sings: do your own thing. Fly solo. Find yourself.
There are advantages to this. There are even joys.
I am one to embrace mild and wild adventures like Mark experienced in his lifetime. Woo-hoo. Go. Do. But here I speak to the essence of what Mark knew, lived, and loved. It’s the longing to belonging.
We belong to God. We belong to each other.
This does mean identity theft. Something within us leaves us so that something much greater can become us.
Theft means something being taken from us. I get that. But this Lent, I invite you to get the loss of your isolated individualism so that, in turn, you connect to the genealogy of who you, child of God, really are. On behalf of Mark, a voice that somehow speaks through this writing, hold this. You are one with the saints and members of the household of God.