Mark P. Schlobohm, a postal worker from Palatine, was a gifted songwriter and performer, his wife said. But “he didn’t like people to focus so much on his skills,” Jean Schlobohm said. He didn’t look at singing as performing; it was “his way of worshipping.” Mr. Schlobohm, 49, died of heart failure Wednesday, March 10, in Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights. Born and raised in Chicago, he played in garage bands with his friends, and graduated from Luther High School North in 1972. Mr. Schlobohm attended Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, but left after a year to travel across the country and into Canada. He returned to the Chicago area and took a job with the U.S. Postal Service, where he worked for more than 25 years in Forest Park, River Grove and, most recently, in the distribution center in Palatine. He and his wife married in 1978. In addition to singing and writing, he played guitar, percussion instruments and harmonica. For the last five years, he played in the praise band at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Palatine. The band recorded two CDs and toured Lutheran schools in the area, including his old high school, his wife said. For the last two years, Mr. Schlobohm taught a religion class for 3rd and 4th graders in his church. “He was teaching them songs and crazy games, and they called him Mr. Mark,” his wife said. “He was totally serious about his faith but never serious about himself.” In addition to his wife, other survivors include a daughter, Jessica; and two sisters, Faith King and Janice Ohama. Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Sunday in Ahlgrim & Sons Funeral Home, 201 N. Northwest Highway, Palatine. Services will be held at 7 p.m. Monday in the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 1190 N. Hicks Rd., Palatine.
