James Mark Pogue

James “Mark” Pogue, 57, passed away on Wednesday, Sept 5th, 2018.  A marathoner, sailor, beloved professor and loving husband and father, we will miss his humor and energy every day.

Mark received his bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University in 1983, made the cross country team and was a member of Farmhouse fraternity.  While selling computers for NCR, he started volunteering as a Young Life leader.  So compelled by the mission, he took a pay cut and in 1987 joined Young Life staff full-time as an area director, first in Kansas City North then following his wedding to Jami, became the area director for Lincoln Young Life from 1994-2000.  In 2000, Mark joined Gallup and turned his mission towards helping college students discover and leverage their innate strengths.  He consulted and equipped hundreds of universities to offer strengths-based education and development programs to students.  Mark earned his master’s degree in executive leadership in 2008 from UNL.

Mark battled numerous health challenges with a fierce determination to keep living fully with intention and purpose.  He received a life-saving heart transplant in 2015 at Tampa General Hospital.

Up for a new adventure from this 2nd chance at life, he became the executive director of the newly established Clifton Strengths Institute at the UNL College of Business and we moved back to Lincoln after 15 years in Minneapolis.  In less than three years, over 3000 students know how to leverage their strengths in academics, career and life.  He implemented a peer coaching model, developed a cohort track for high-potential entrepreneurial students, created new courses and added a minor.  He loved and cared deeply for his students, attending their sporting events and inviting them to our home.

He battled lymphoma for the last 18 months but continued to invest in others and impart faith and hope until the very end.

Mark is survived by his wife, Jami and two daughters, Paige (21) and Reilly (20), who were the joys of his life.  Parents Jim and Barbara Pogue, brother Matt (Renee), in-laws Jim and Linda Flannery, brothers in-law Ryan (Lorena), Kent (Jennifer), Taylor (Nicole) Flannery and nieces and nephews. 

To honor Mark’s life are the following events:  Remembering and Celebrating Mark Pogue: Thursday, Sept 13th from 5-6 pm at the UNL College of Business, Howard L Hawks Hall, Hendrickson Family Atrium, 730 N 14th St Lincoln.  Funeral Mass on Friday, Sept 14th at 10 am at St John the Apostle Catholic Church, 7601 Vine St. Lincoln.  In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Mark’s honor to Lincoln Young Life or to Reconnect Resources.