Mark proudly served his country in the United States Air Force from 1974 to 1978, during the Vietnam era. He served honorably as a Sergeant and worked as a Radio Relay Equipment Specialist with the 2nd Combat Communications Group. He was honorably discharged from active duty in March 1978.
Following his military service, Mark continued his education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting with a minor in Management Information Systems in 1981. Mark dedicated much of his career to the energy industry, beginning with Tenneco Oil Company, where he worked as an accountant for approximately 10 years. He later worked as a financial analyst for Enron, Duke Energy, and Suez Energy. Throughout his career, Mark was proud of his work, his knowledge, and the dedication he brought to every company he served.
Mark is survived by his beloved wife Cynthia Diedrich, daughters Stephanie L. Hughes Garcia, Michelle N. Burkholder, Chelsea A. Ruiz, and Juliette A. Diedrich; his brothers, Michael Diedrich and Hal Diedrich; his many grandchildren; and other family and loved ones.
Mark was a true handyman at heart, with a talent for carpentry and a natural ability to fix just about anything. He had a natural talent for leather repair, taking pride in his ability to restore and bring new life to leather items. Mark spent 8 years working with Keith Calder at Fibre New, where he displayed his work and always exceeded at any job he completed . During his time working with Keith, Mark developed a close and meaningful friendship with him, as Keith was one of the few people he felt comfortable talking to and considered a trusted friend. He was a skilled and resourceful man who could always find a way to fix, restore, or create something with his own hands. He was rarely sitting still, always working on a project, repairing something around the house, or finding something new to work on. He was also an avid coin collector who enjoyed not only collecting coins, but learning the history behind each one and appreciating the stories they carried. A true Harley-Davidson fan, Mark took great pride in his 2003 Harley Fat Boy Soft tail. He loved riding it, keeping it spotless, and taking care of it. When he wasn’t working with his hands or enjoying his hobbies, he could often be found watching some of his favorite shows, including Gunsmoke, Dark Shadows, and, of course, the beloved, seemingly never-ending The Young and the Restless. These simple passions and everyday moments were a reflection of who Mark was and are memories his family will cherish forever.
