Mark Goulson

Mark Goulson, age 73, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at Ossian Care Center. Though a brief acute illness ended his life, it followed a lifetime of battling ailments that challenged his body but never diminished his sharp mind or generous spirit.

Born and raised in Decorah, Mark spent his youth exploring the Flat with his friends, creating boyhood memories and minor mischief. He graduated with honors from Thomas Roberts Senior High, where he also enjoyed success in baseball and football. He went on to earn a degree in English and a teaching certificate from Iowa State University in Ames, where he met the love of his life, Kathleen Smith. They married on July 2, 1977.

After a short time teaching, coaching, and driving a school bus in Lakota, Mark returned with Kathy to Decorah and joined his father in the Title & Abstract business. Together they raised a daughter, Emily, and three sons, Benjamin, Rolf, and Thomas. A lifelong Cyclone fan, Mark took special delight in teasing his sons, who all chose the University of Iowa, while noting with approval that his daughter attended the University of Northern Iowa.

Mark was a voracious reader and gifted storyteller who wrote several young adult novels and created the comic “Madame Buttfly,” whose heroine bounced through adventures on her generous backside while managing her troublesome sons. He also built dollhouses and miniature barns, carved wood, constructed model cars and airplanes, and devoted countless hours to his beloved model railroad village. His garden was the pride of the neighborhood, supplying abundant harvests that Kathy preserved and the family enjoyed year-round. Above all, Mark was a champion for children, always ready to support and encourage family and friends with a kind word or a good story.

He is survived by his wife, Kathleen; sister, Karen (Doug) Allen; daughter, Emily (Jeremy) Barnes; sons, Ben (Rachel) Goulson, Rolf (Jennifer) Goulson, and Tom Goulson; six grandchildren; three special young friends; and many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Roger and Jeane Goulson; infant son, John; and his dogs, Rascal and Cocoa.