Mark Ronald Warbis

Mark Ronald Warbis, born October 26, 1957, in Chicago, died peacefully on June 17, 2021, at his home in Meridian, Idaho, surrounded by his wife and children.

Mark lived with his parents, Bob and Doris, in Chicago until age 7, when Doris died due to illness. Mark and his father then moved to the Gooding/Shoshone area of Idaho where he grew up. Mark was a very private man and shared few details of his childhood and adolescence with others. However, he was open about the love he felt for his mother and the love she gave him. As a man, Mark was resolute in creating a family life full of love, stability, structure, and opportunity for his children.

After graduating high school, Mark enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 17. He served as a petty officer from 1975 to 1981 on supply ships throughout the world. A performance evaluation report in his military files shows his Navy superiors noted Mark’s “above average use of the English language” – something that comes as no surprise to those who knew Mark’s exceptional ability to write and his instinctive understanding of the practice of communication.

After completing his enlistment in the U.S. Navy, Mark returned to Idaho and attended Boise State University, where he graduated in 1984.

While attending Boise State, Mark met Michelle Peterson. Michelle shared Mark’s desire for a strong family life. They married on March 20, 1982, and welcomed their first child, Brian, 11 months later. Mark and Michelle’s family would grow to include son Trent and daughter Caitlin.

Michelle has been the family’s rock and foundation. The children describe Michelle as Mark’s “buffer and his comfort blanket.” Mark and Michelle celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary this year.

Mark’s true pride and joy were his children, Brian, Trent, and Caitlin, and his grandchildren, Tuff (age 7), Brooks (age 5), and Vivian (age 11 weeks). The halls of Mark and Michelle’s home are lined with framed family photos that Mark lovingly put together himself. He would purchase the frames, sort and print the photos, and refresh them when it was time.

As a father, Mark loved his children deeply and always pushed them to do their best and follow their dreams. No one – not even his kids – could escape Mark’s extensive editing. Jokingly, they say they ended up in tears after seeing their homework bleed with red edits after Mark got through with it.

He could be meticulous and tough, but it came from a place of love and perhaps a strong desire to provide them the support, direction, and opportunity he did not have growing up. Mark and Michelle’s commitment was rewarded with adult children who value family, married wonderful people, attended college and are now successful professionally.

Each of Mark’s children had something about them he was particularly proud of and spent time with them doing. Mark and Brian bonded over baseball. Mark would get home from work and hit balls with Brian for a couple of hours, and even adjusted his work schedule to be able to attend more games and practices. They traveled extensively for Brian’s games. Mark’s early years in Chicago made him a loyal fan of the Chicago Cubs, and one of the highlights of his life was going to the World Series Game 4 at Wrigley Field in Chicago with Brian in 2016 and seeing his home team play. Mark and Trent shared a love of reading and movies, and often talked politics. Caitlin’s brothers say she could do no wrong in their dad’s eyes – something she disputes when she recalls her teenage years.

For most of Mark’s life, he was not “touchy feely” or overly expressive with his feelings – another thing everyone knew about him. However, Mark’s cancer diagnosis in 2014 and the birth of grandson Tuff in 2013 were life changes that softened him immensely. As a grandpa, he was always on the floor playing with them, wrestling, and simply spending time with them baking cookies or visiting.

Mark had an impressive career in journalism, communications, and politics. More than half of his career was spent as a reporter with the Associated Press. He worked as a “newsman” for the AP in Boise from 1982 to 2002, where he made some very good friends. It was the perfect job for a man who was intelligent, worked hard, and was remarkably talented at writing. He covered everything from executions to floods, including state politics, the Idaho Legislature, criminal justice, and the Idaho Supreme Court. He took assignments out of state to cover the 1992 Democratic National Convention in New York City and the 2000 Republican National Convention in Philadelphia. Twice, he earned the John W. Gallivan Excellent Achievement Award from the AP, in 1993-1994 and again in 2000-2001. Brian, Trent, and Caitlin remember visiting Dad at the AP office in the basement of the Capitol building, running around in circles while the fax machine worked furiously to pump out press releases and news articles from around the state.

Mark left the AP in 2002 to become Communications Director for Congressman C.L. “Butch” Otter. It would be the start of a rewarding 16-year stretch working for and advising Butch. Mark stayed with Butch for all three terms as Idaho Governor, from 2007-2019. In the Congressional Office and the Governor’s Office, Mark was Butch’s behind-the-scenes voice – writing his speeches, statements, news releases, opinion pieces, and other outward-facing communications. He handled media relations for the office on a national and at times global scale. He advised him on matters involving multiple agencies and issues, and he was part of the leadership team that helped the Governor successfully navigate the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

For this tribute to Mark, Governor Otter said, “Mark was, as you might expect, an exclamation point in my public life – a calming influence during times of turbulence and an honest broker of different opinions. Mark and I worked together for most of my Congressional service and all my time as Governor. Through good times and tough times, I could always count on Mark to bring me back to reality. I used to tell him I needed only three ideas for every speech. He never left me without TRUST, COMMITMENT, and LOVE in his advice. Yes, I shall miss him. Mark’s passing reminds me of the saying, ‘Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come.’ Rest with comfort, my friend. Love, Butch.”

Mark made many good friends throughout his career, including over the past two-and-a-half years at the Idaho State Tax Commission, where he served as Director of Public Information. It was a place he could offer his years of legislative and communications experience to continue to serve the state.

Mark’s family and friends knew him to be a gruff and grumpy nose-to-the-grindstone guy with high expectations for himself and those around him. But we also knew him to be loyal, loving, steadfast, and supportive. Mark served his state, country, and his family and friends honorably.

Mark is survived by his wife, Michelle; son Brian and his wife, Whitney, and their sons, Tuff (age 7) and Brooks (age 5); son Trent and his wife, Amanda; daughter Caitlin Andrew and her husband, Richard, and their daughter, Vivian (age 11 weeks). He is preceded in death by his parents, Bob Warbis and Doris (Holgerson) Warbis.

Mark will be buried at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery in Boise at a later date during a private graveside ceremony with his family. Mark’s friends and colleagues are invited to a public viewing on Wednesday, June 23, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Cloverdale Funeral Home in Boise. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the St. Alphonsus Cancer Care Center for Patient Assistance at https://donate.saintalphonsus.org/donateBoise