Mark Richard Hobbs
December 17, 1965 – September 26, 2026
Mark Richard Hobbs – treasured husband, attuned father, incredibly proud grandfather, wonderful friend to everyone he met, impassioned mentor, champion of a good laugh, and professional people-person – passed peacefully on September 26, 2026, at age 60, after living with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. He was a joyful presence wherever he went and a bright spot in every room: a light all those who love him will miss and look for, in his absence.
Mark was born on December 17, 1965, in Puyallup, Washington, to his mother, Charlie Wimmer. His father, Al Hobbs, was serving in the U.S. Army when he met Mark’s mother before Mark was born. Upon return from deployment, Al married Charlie when Mark was 4 months old and became Mark’s forever father.
As an Army brat, Mark spent much of his childhood moving around Washington and multiple states in the southern United States with his parents. By his own count, he’d moved 30 times before the age of 18. Being perpetually “the new kid” helped shape the person Mark became. He learned to adapt quickly, make friends easily, and use his humor to connect with nearly anyone.
Eventually returning to Washington, Mark went to Olympia High School and graduated in 1984. Following his graduation, he lived in Seattle with his now best friends, Harry Klages, Gary Flomer, and Jill Smith for many years — enjoying countless good times with them and each of their eventual spouses. Before beginning the real estate career for which many in Seattle would come to know him, Mark worked alongside his best friend, Harry, in the restaurant industry. Later, with other organizations, he advanced to District Manager, overseeing site selection for new restaurant locations. Mark and Kim met for the first time while attending a wedding reception. They married 4-years later on July 31, 1993 and built a life together that led to two children, Kalia and Evan, who both embody many of their father’s qualities. Mark was proud of the two of them and met his children at their level, guiding them throughout their childhoods and young adulthoods, with trust, respect, and humor. Kim and Mark’s life included more than three decades of marriage with many beautiful adventures along the way including travel, family adventures, and 25 years of a successful and fulfilling partnership in Seattle real estate together. Mark and Kim were a wonderful, dynamic team in every facet of life for their 37 years of happiness together.
Beginning his real estate career in 1997, Mark found his professional calling as a Broker and Managing Broker with Windermere, including serving in leadership at the Eastlake and Lakeview offices. He joined Windermere’s Standards of Practice Committee in 1998 and later became its Ethics Chairman, a role particularly fitting for someone who cared deeply about doing right by people.
Mark took pride in his work. Reflecting on his own life, he wrote, “I kept on doing things other people weren’t willing to do to differentiate myself.” But his career was never only about selling houses. He loved making clients’ dreams come true, as well as teaching, mentoring, and helping other brokers grow – regarding those parts of his role as particularly rewarding and finding great joy in them.
Outside of work, Mark was endlessly curious. He had a wonderful mind with a love of learning. He was an educator by nature, a voracious reader, a music lover, and a lifelong learner who freely shared what he knew. His advice was kind and his intelligence was accompanied by an ability to make people feel comfortable around him.
More than anything, Mark loved people.
In reflections he wrote after his diagnosis, Mark said he felt most himself when there were people around and “a buzz” in the room. He drew energy from being with others and wrote that he naturally went toward people who were “feeling down”. That instinct – to notice someone who needed a lift and find a way to make them smile – was quintessentially Mark.
His greatest joy was making people laugh. He was charming, quick-witted, happy-go-lucky, and famously capable of making a friend almost anywhere. He had a wonderful smile and an unmistakably genuine laugh, and both were generously shared. After being diagnosed and, eventually, coming to terms with his early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, Mark approached an unimaginably difficult chapter with characteristic openness, saying, “I owned it.”
Even as his life changed, Mark continued finding reasons to enjoy it and, interestingly, started to find happiness in things that would have previously been very out of his comfort zone. He discovered a joy in painting, sang “Lean On Me” in the UW Gospel Choir as an honorary choir member, enjoyed weekly visits to the zoo, took a special interest in photography with his “Green Lake Reflections”, and he especially loved pickleball which he declared “the most fun thing you can do.” He also continued looking for the positive during difficult times. In his own assessment of the qualities he was developing, he named thoughtfulness, kindness, companionship, and patience.
Mark loved his family deeply. He and Kim were partners in nearly every sense of the word — building a marriage, family, and an impactful, fulfilling career together. He was deeply proud of his children, Kalia and Evan, and, in the final months of his life, experienced the profound joy of becoming a grandfather to his granddaughter, Keeley. During the last 5 months of his life and the first 5 months of hers, he had an unexplainable amount of recognition of who she was to him, his love for her, and true delight in and understanding of his new role as “Grandpa Mark”. This was a gift his family did not expect but will always cherish.
In one of his written reflections, Mark shared, “I’ve never felt sorry for myself – not one iota. It could always be worse. Look outside yourself and try to be of service. It is important to connect with other people so they pay it forward. What we do now props up future generations.”
His family finds particular meaning in those words now. After his death, Mark donated brain tissue to the University of Washington for Alzheimer’s research, contributing to the scientific work seeking better understanding and treatment of the disease that took him far too soon, which feels especially symbolic to the legacy he leaves behind.
Mark passed away, surrounded by his family who spent his final days together at his side — sharing stories, laughing, grieving, and surrounding him with love. While his absence leaves an immeasurable hole in their lives, they are grateful that he is finally free from the disease that took so much from him, and they will remember Mark as he truly was: a wonderful husband and father, a silly and proud grandfather, a trusted friend and mentor, a curious and thoughtful mind, and one of the funniest and most genuinely joyful people they knew.
Mark was preceded in death by his father, Elvin “Al” Hobbs; his mother, Charlotte “Charlie” Susan; his infant sister, Dawn Oleta Hobbs; his maternal grandmother, Anna Wimmer, his maternal great grandmother, “Nana” Vera Hunger, his paternal grandfather, George A. Hobbs, and his paternal grandmother, Dessie “Oleta” Wright.
Mark is survived by his wife of 33 years, Kimberly “Kim” Hobbs; his children, Kalia Hobbs Rutz and Evan Hobbs; his granddaughter, Keeley Hobbs Rutz; his son-in law, Tanner Rutz, and Tanner’s parents, Mike and Lona Rutz; his step-mother Cheri Hobbs; his mother-in-law Sharon Robinson; his godparents-in-law Jane DiJulio Hall and Ken Hall; his step-father Rudy Susan; his aunt, Sharon Malone; his caregiver, Sarah Ledray, who became family through her devoted care and unwavering support; his best friends; and the many relatives, friends, colleagues, and former clients whose lives were made better – and usually funnier – by knowing him.
In lieu of flowers, the family invites those wishing to honor Mark to donate to the Alzheimer’s Association at https://events.alz.org/