Mark David Pilger

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — After a long-standing illness, Mark passed out of this life to be with his mother, Margaret; father, Lee; and grandparents, Jacqueline and Elmer Pilger, also Minda and David Lauver.

Mark was a trapeze aerialist with Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus for two seasons and traveled the world performing his famous "Flying Heel Catch" with many other circuses. Although Mark loved traveling and entertaining throughout the world, he loved to come back home to his beloved Baraboo, and the Circus World Museum, where he got his start.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008, at the Circus World Museum in Baraboo, in the Hippodrome building.

Family requests donations be made, in lieu of flowers to: "Friends of Mark David," 6388 Crossland Blvd., Gurnee, IL 60031.