From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Peosta, Iowa

Just seen Mark McWilliams has passed, Iowa's long gourd state record holder, and lover of growing orange pumpkins. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers tonight.

1/9/2021 9:41:04 PM

hate to hear this seen him every year ive been growing at weighoffs since 2003 or 2004 rest in peace mark

1/9/2021 9:54:56 PM

Westmoreland, KS

dang that sucks...great guy prayers for him and his family

1/9/2021 10:08:57 PM

Lakewood, WA

I miss him already, R.I.P!

1/9/2021 10:15:49 PM

Mi.

R.I.P. Mark

1/9/2021 10:30:10 PM

Peosta, Iowa

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=322424

1/9/2021 10:34:27 PM

Centennial Colorado

Hard to hear. Liked his diary. This week has been tough. I lost my friend who just turned 18. Went to a funeral today and now here this. Hopefully 2021 ends up turning around and gets better.

1/9/2021 10:43:44 PM

Buffalo, MN (Billsbigpumpkins@hotmail.com)

May Mark Rest in Peace and condolences to His family. I will grow a few orange pumpkins for him to look down upon.

1/9/2021 10:54:26 PM

Grittyville, WA

Genuine sadness.. Eternal happy days buddy!

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=268045

1/9/2021 11:00:08 PM

Freedom Is Just Another Word For Noting Left To Lose

RIP Mark. You will be missed.

1/9/2021 11:39:54 PM

Upper Strasburg, PA

Prayers for Mark and his family. Always enjoyed talking with him on here- Mark was a good man

1/9/2021 11:54:37 PM

Syracuse, NY

Very sorry to hear this - Pcaspers, that photo link will be a good one to remember him by.
My condolences to all---Eric G

1/10/2021 12:04:08 AM

Colorado

My condolences to family and friends.

1/10/2021 12:07:27 AM

Anchorage Alaska

Damm that is bad news, I always appreciated his point of view on life ..RIP

1/10/2021 12:52:06 AM

Bloomfield, Iowa

Sad to hear. God bless Mark and his family. Glad the kids brought him to our weighoff last year. Cancer sucks. He loved growing and with plenty pest issues he always kept trying and never gave up. Rest in peace my friend.

1/10/2021 1:29:19 AM

Jericho Vermont

Our thoughts go out to Mark's family. He was a passionate grower.

1/10/2021 5:39:36 AM

My condolences to family

1/10/2021 6:15:44 AM

Central Illinois

condolences to his family and friends.

1/10/2021 6:34:28 AM

Marshfield, Ma, USA

My condolences to your family.

1/10/2021 6:37:41 AM

Central NY

Big loss for our BP family. Very sad day.

1/10/2021 7:59:42 AM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

R.I.P Mark, condolences to his family.

1/10/2021 8:13:42 AM

50 Acres

Condolences to his family and friends.

1/10/2021 9:07:54 AM

Bethlehem CT

Sad news, I always enjoyed reading his political comments in the non pumpkin forum. He wasn't afraid to voice his opinion. He had interesting thoughts and opinions on just about every subject. R.I.P. Mark.

1/10/2021 9:08:25 AM

Clinton, Iowa

I spent some time at this years weigh off chatting with him and his daughter at that weigh off. To say it was an emotional thing would be putting it lightly. I can say this about Mark. He was in a real good place mentally and was as strong as anyone I know facing such obstacles. I hope I react as well as he has. He grew some of the pretty orange pumpkins I have ever seen and I will always remember that . Anamosa lost a great grower and friend , Godspeed Mark

1/10/2021 9:14:02 AM

Keaau, Hawaii (Big Island)

Mark was one of the first growers that had helped our 4-H program get started with growing giants a number of years ago by donating many pumpkin, watermelon and gourd seeds. I LOVED his seeds...I never got anything less than 99-100% germination every year since. He was always there to lend us advice...was excited to tell him this year that one of his watermelon seeds I grew gave me my new PB and another state record. I never had the opportunity to meet him in person, but will miss all our correspondence we had thru our FB posts and messages. You will be missed. My condolences to his family and friends.

1/10/2021 9:16:44 AM

Topsfield, MA

Extremely sad. I talked to him a few times on Facebook and he was extremely helpful and an amazing guy. Will truly be missed.

1/10/2021 9:24:36 AM

Ct

Mark supported many of our club auctions with donations of his orange pumpkin seeds. My condolences to the McWilliams family and his friends.

1/10/2021 9:52:31 AM

Vancouver Washington

Deepest sympathy and condolences to the McWilliams.

1/10/2021 9:57:28 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

RIP "Iowa", an intelligent and well spoken man who loved growing. Condolences to all of is friend and family.

1/10/2021 10:06:36 AM

Prestonsburg,ky

RIP Mark

1/10/2021 10:26:04 AM

Beaver dam ky

The first weigh off I ever went to was in Anamosa Iowa. He was one of the first growers to talk to me and he helped me get my start in growing the giants we love. RIP Mark. God Speed.

1/10/2021 10:56:47 AM

Ellwood City, PA, USA

Sad news. I always looked for his input in the message boards. Prayers go out to his family.

1/10/2021 11:24:50 AM

central Nc

Sorry to hear. He was the first to give me advice on LGs. Hope his son will carry on the growing.

1/10/2021 12:19:12 PM

Iowa

Always enjoyed visiting with him at Anamosa, Bloomfield, and State Fair weigh-offs. Lot's of good memories that's been shared so far. Condolences to the family and hope they carry on his love of growing.

1/10/2021 1:22:13 PM

Antigonish,Nova Scotia,Canada

Sad new. He will be missed.

1/10/2021 1:29:58 PM

NILES , CALIF

Rip Iowegian

1/10/2021 2:21:23 PM

South East

rip my friend.

1/10/2021 2:58:54 PM

Massillon, Ohio

Very sorry to hear this sad news.

1/10/2021 3:33:49 PM

Connecticut, USA

So sad. My condolences to his family.

1/10/2021 5:01:05 PM

Cheshire Ma USA

RIP Mark it was always great to read his diary entries.

1/10/2021 5:37:56 PM

Mt.Pleasant,Iowa

Lost a great guy, Always loved talking to Mark. He always sent seeds for my group here in Mt. Pleasant for me to hand out for many years. He was always there to answer any questions. Mark will be greatly missed and my condolences to his family.

1/10/2021 6:40:18 PM

Pittsburgh, PA

Damn cancer. I was praying for Mark to beat it. So sad to hear this news today. My condolences to Marks family and friends.

1/10/2021 7:52:12 PM

New England

Prayers for his loved ones. Very sad to read this.

1/11/2021 10:55:06 AM

Boscawen, NH

Condolences to family and friends.

1/11/2021 11:57:34 AM

President - GPC

Sad News for sure, he will be missed, RIP Mark

1/11/2021 12:30:20 PM

Peosta, Iowa

https://www.goettschonline.com/obituary/mark-mcwilliams

1/13/2021 3:33:23 PM

Rapid City, SD

R.I.P Mark.....prayers out to his family...GOD SPEED

1/13/2021 8:05:31 PM

Princeton Kentucky

So so sorry to hear this. Mark will be dearly missed. Prayers to his family. RIP

1/15/2021 6:55:22 AM