Mark Torche
Mark David Torche, 69, of Marshalltown, IA, passed away on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at UnityPoint Health – Marshalltown. A private family burial will be held at Riverside Cemetery in Marshalltown. A memorial service will be held at a future date. Arrangements have been entrusted to Anderson Funeral Homes. Online condolences may be sent to www.andersonfhs.com.
The son of Robert and Anita (Knowlton) Torche, Mark was born on February 9th, 1957, in Syracuse, NY. He attended the State University of New York, receiving a Bachelor of Science in 1986 and a Master of Science in Education in 1992. He later attended Drake University, receiving his Juris Doctor in 1999. Mark was very committed to the idea of being a lifelong learner, as evidenced by his extensive education and career paths. Anything new he wanted to learn or do, he jumped into 100%. He could fix almost anything from the car to all the stuff around our 100+ year old house, and all our computers and technology.
Mark married Melissa Bass on July 13th, 1996. They had three children, Joshua, Reilia and Michael. He was completely devoted to his family. Always putting the needs and desires of his wife and kids first. He was a wonderful cook, making many fantastic holiday meals and cookouts for his family and friends.
Over the course of his life, Mark held so many varied jobs. Think of a job other than a restaurant server, and he probably did it at some point. Some of his more pronounced jobs were working as a high school Physics and Math teacher in both New York and Florida. He then went on to work as a patent attorney in New York, Florida, and Iowa after achieving his law degree. For the past 3 years, Mark had been working as a contract attorney, taking court-appointed criminal defense cases for Marshall, Tama, and Hardin counties.
He had many hobbies, including his passion for music, which led him to learning how to play the guitar. He always enjoyed going out to the movies with his family. He loved airplanes (both real and model) and had an extensive knowledge of aviation history. Mark always said his father taught him to leave any place he went better than when he got there. He lived by this philosophy.
He will be missed more than words can say by his loving wife, Melissa (Bass) Torche of Marshalltown; his three children, Joshua of Ames, Reilia of Washington, and Michael of Marshalltown; his mother, Anita Timmel of Florida; and his sister, Lisa Torche Davis of New York; as well as aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Mark is preceded in death by his father Robert Torche.