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.

Mark O. Hagenbuch, c. 1955

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 O. Hagenbuch, c. 1960

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.

Mark O. Hagenbuch, 1974

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 O. Hagenbuch with his class, c. 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.

Mark O. Hagenbuch, 1979

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 O. Hagenbuch with his wife, Linda, in 2012

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.

Dr. Mark Odis Hagenbuch (b. 1953, d. 2025)