Mark Dienst

Mark Dienst, age 56, of Maple Park, passed away at home, surrounded by the love and prayers of his family, in the early morning hours of Wednesday, January 9, 2019.
He was born October 14, 1962, in Geneva, IL, to proud parents, Wendell and Mary (Olesen) Dienst.
Mark grew up in Maple Park and made it his lifetime home. He attended local schools and graduated from Kaneland High School with the class of 1980. Before Mark received his diploma, he became a friend to many and was no stranger to various mischief and shenanigans.
Mark and Teresa Carter met their senior year and it didn’t take long for Mark to pull on her heartstrings. They were married a couple of years out of high school, on June 12, 1982. They continued to live in Maple Park and welcomed home two children, John and Kate. Millions of memories were made in the ensuing years, filling their home with love, laughter and eventually 4 grandchildren.
Mark began his working career at Midwest Ground Cover before being employed by Stover Bros. Trucking in Elburn. Mark worked for Dicken Grain for a time before buying his own truck, hauling for Aldi. In recent years he hauled mostly grain and livestock and wouldn’t have it any other way. Mark also farmed for a time, but his true passion lay in the cab of his Peterbilt, gazing out on the open road.
Mark was a tough trucker with a heart of gold, whose nickname was “Cowboy” to many. He did his best thinking in his truck and held his convictions firmly in hand. Mark’s favorite color was chrome, and he added it to anything he drove. Making his cab his home, Mark put his special touch on anything and everything, including plans to install a microwave so he could truly eat on the go. In his younger years, Mark loved to ride horses. As he got older, Mark started to add more and more “horsepower” because if Mark liked anything, he liked power and speed. A yearly trip out west, usually Montana, but North Dakota being the destination in 2018, served as a “vacation” when he picked up a load of livestock to bring back home. His children and grandchildren captured his heart like no other and he was happiest when surrounded by them. Mark now drives the Heavenly Highway leaving us with a wink, a smile, and rainbows during life’s darkest times.
He is survived by his loving wife Teresa Dienst; two children: John (Emily) Dienst and their children: Sadie and Jay; Kate (Cory) Stockmann and their children: Adelaide and Henry; parents: Wendell and Mary Dienst; one sister, Sue Zahnow; a brother, Mike Dienst; several nieces, nephews, and a countryside full of his trucker family.
A visitation to celebrate his life will be from 11:30 am -2:30 pm, Saturday, January 12, 2019 at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn , IL 60119. A funeral service will follow visitation at 2:30 p.m. , also at the funeral home, with The Rev. Preston C. Fields, officiating. Private family interment will follow cremation at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Mark’s name to benefit his favorite charities including research on colon cancer. Checks may be made to the “Mark Dienst Memorial” and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address, the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com where you can see his full life story.

A funeral service will follow visitation at 2:30 p.m. , also at the funeral home, with The Rev. Preston C. Fields, officiating.

A visitation to celebrate his life will be from 11:30 am -2:30 pm, Saturday, January 12, 2019 at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn , IL 60119.

Private family interment will follow cremation at a later date.