LIME SPRINGS — Mark Leonard Tieskotter, 77, of Lime Springs, a hardworking family man who spent years farming, working in manufacturing and serving his community, died Friday, August 7, 2026, at WinnMed Hospital in Decorah.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, August 12, at Notre Dame Parish, 223 Second Ave. E. in Cresco, with the Rev. Jon Seda celebrating the Mass.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 11, at Notre Dame Parish, with a Rosary beginning at 4 p.m. Visitation will continue for one hour before the Mass on Wednesday.
Mark’s final resting place will be Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery, 2940 Iowa Highway 24 in Lawler, with interment scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
Mark was born April 6, 1949, in Cresco, the son of Andrew and Bernadine (Tillman) Tieskotter.
He attended Holy Trinity Catholic School in Protivin during his elementary years and later attended Turkey Valley Community School in Jackson Junction.
Mark married Margaret McBrady in 1973, and the couple later divorced. They became parents to two children, Joe and Laura.
On October 13, 1984, Mark married Diane Vrzak. Together they welcomed two more children, Brian and Amy, and built a life centered on family and the communities they called home.
Hard work was a constant throughout Mark’s life.
He spent many years milking cows and helping his father on the family farm. In 1994, Mark began working at Atwood in West Union, where he remained for 14 years while continuing to lend a hand on the farm.
Mark and Diane moved to Cresco in 2010 and later settled in Lime Springs in 2016.
After making Lime Springs home, Mark became involved in community life. He served on the Lime Springs Pool and Park Board as well as the Lidtke Mill Board.
His faith was also important to him, and he was a member of Notre Dame Parish in Cresco.
Mark enjoyed spending time outdoors, especially gardening and landscaping.
He also treasured time with his grandchildren and enjoyed playing cards, putting together puzzles and taking part in bingo.
His enthusiasm for bingo eventually grew into something larger when he, Diane and a friend helped start a bingo hall in Lime Springs.
Those carrying on Mark’s memory include his wife, Diane of Lime Springs; children Joe (Karen) Speigel of Idaho, Laura Carlson of Idaho, Brian (Nicole) Tieskotter of Faribault, Minnesota, and Amy Tieskotter of Charles City; grandchildren Emma Shannon, Eric Shannon and Zeke Tieskotter; brothers Dennis (Kathy) Tieskotter of Lawler, Daniel Tieskotter of Harpers Ferry, Roy Tieskotter of New Hampton and Gerald Tieskotter of Little Turkey; sisters Mary (Joe) Roybal of Platteville, Colorado, Marti (Marv) Andera of Cresco and Maxine (Robert) Friedman of St. Ansgar; sister-in-law Marlene Tieskotter of Fredericksburg; and many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew and Bernadine Tieskotter, and brothers Richard and David Tieskotter.
Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory is handling arrangements. To read more and see the full obituary, please click here.
If you would like an obituary, remembrance or tribute story published in NIT, please email the details to NORTHIOWATODAY@GMAIL.COM. This is a free service.