If you recently visited Lincoln Trail State Park and admired the landscaping and cleanliness of the campground, you likely have Mark Setzer to thank. After 8 years as a Site Technician II at Lincoln Trail State Park, Mark Setzer made his last round on May 31, 2026.
Site Superintendent, Tom Hintz, remarked at how thankful he was to have Mark on staff. “Just give him the tools and he did the work.” Hintz noted that not only did Mark excel at his duties in general maintenance of grounds and facilities, he also did a great job of passing along skills and knowledge that made the whole team better.
Setzer’s dedication to the park itself did not go unnoticed. His strong work ethic also spilled over to helping out the Friends of Lincoln Trail State Park for projects and activities. Mark enjoyed driving the hayrides during the annual Fall Frolic. Never hesitating to jump in and make an idea become a reality, Mark’s ability to make sure things were done right is much appreciated on many of the Friend’s projects around the park.
Aside from just being great at his job, Mark is also known for caring about park visitors. “Mark has a soft heart for people down on their luck,” says Hintz. He has gone above and beyond for park visitors, once taking a homeless family to get some food so they wouldn’t have to walk. Another time, he initiated a collection for a camper to get a tarp and a mess kit so he could be more self-sufficient.
Both Hintz and the Friends of Lincoln Trail State Park have a simple message for Mark:
“Thank you, and enjoy a well-deserved retirement!”
Friends of Lincoln Trail State Park is a group designed to help raise awareness of and fund activities at Lincoln Trail State Park. To learn more, join their group on Facebook.
Lincoln Trail State Park is 2 miles south of the city of Marshall, just west of Illinois Route 1.
Local coverage supported by
