Nicholas Mark Fohey

MARION — Nicholas Mark Fohey, 35, of Marion, formerly of Monona, a beloved son, brother, uncle, grandson, godfather and friend, passed away at his home surrounded by his loving family.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday (June 11) at at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion with Father David O’Connor as the Celebrant. Inurnment will be held at a later date.

Born on March 12, 1989 to Mark and Jill (Winkoski) Fohey in Elkader, Nick grew up in Monona right alongside his preschool friend and high school sweetheart, Jordann, whom he later proposed to so they could be official best friends for life. Nick graduated from MFL MarMac High School with the class of 2007, earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree from The University of Northern Iowa in 2011 and his Juris Doctorate in 2015 from the University of Iowa. He took a job at a law firm in Minneapolis after law school and then worked at Aegon Asset Management in Cedar Rapids as in-house counsel, specializing in commercial real estate.

On August 20, 2011, Nick was united in marriage with Jordann Hoffert at the United Methodist Church in Monona and they proceeded to carve out a life together that was full of the deepest love, so much laughter and countless examples of sticking together through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. They have four wonderful children together who take after their dad in looks, personality or both. He was the best daddy to James, Kyelle, Leo and Miles, and they absolutely adored him.

Nick was a man of strong convictions and opinions, and if you were lucky enough to be friends with him, you had the most loyal friend who had your back and was exactly who you wanted to be in your corner. He could argue any point into the ground, which made being a lawyer a natural fit. He was highly intelligent, with an extensive vocabulary and was always quick with a quip or comeback.

Sports were one of Nick’s passions, and he watched them as often as he could. An avid fan of the Green Bay Packers and Iowa Hawkeyes, he attended countless games, and could boast that he was present when Caitlin Clark broke the record for most points in a college career. He loved watching movies and reading books, especially those in the sci-fi genre.

Nick thoroughly enjoyed good food, did not think salads should be considered an entree and made the best sugu pasta sauce using a recipe from his beloved Nani. He often said you could see his Irish heritage on the outside, but his Italian heritage was all in his stomach - there was never a pasta he met that he didn’t like.

But what he loved most was his family. His wife and kids were the center of his universe, and he loved them with every fiber of his being. He would do anything for them. And they loved him right back with that same degree of fierce love.

He was diagnosed with brain cancer in July 2023 and fought that battle with a determination, strength of will and resiliency that was an inspiration to all who witnessed it. But don’t let him catch you trying to patronize him, or you would hear about it. Despite the progression of his illness, he made every effort to attend all of his kids’ activities, from school concerts to endless soccer games. Nick passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family while they were sharing their favorite memories they had with him.

Surviving Nick are his wife, Jordann Fohey of Marion; his children, James, Kyelle, Leo and Miles Fohey of Marion; father, Mark (Kam) Fohey of Monona; mother, Jill Winkoski of Monona; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Chris and Loyce Hoffert of Monona; grandmother, Judith Fohey of Kenosha, Wisconsin; grandmother-in-law, Merilee Kleppe of Pella; siblings, Jessica (Jake) Wilke of Monona, Taylor Fohey of Monona, Christopher Fohey of Luana and Bea Fohey of Monona; siblings-in-law, Casey (Kianne) Hoffert of Waverly, Kylie (Nathan) Sandstrom of Monona and Jason (Shari) Hoffert of West Liberty; nieces and nephews, Charlotte, Gretchen, Harrison, Quinntin, Aylah, Kohenn, Ayden, Lauryn, Lyndon, Daelyn, Marryn, Chance, Violet and Scarlett; godson, Quanstus.

Nick was preceded in death by his grandparents, George Fohey and Fred and Mary Winkoski.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.

The family has entrusted Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Monona to handle the arrangements.

Click here to visit the Leonard-Grau Funeral Home webiste.