Friend fondly remembers Tiemann

Dear Editor,

Today, I found out that I had lost a dear friend, Mark Tiemann.

I had the privilege of Mark’s friendship in our formative years. He was a year behind me in high school at Heritage Christian School in Indianapolis, Ind. I met Mark through his older sister, Melony, who, with the rest of the Tiemann family, became dear friends. Their family had suffered some hard times which had an effect on all of them. I sensed that Mark could use a friend.

I knew Mark as a fun-loving and soft-hearted guy. He had a background similar to mine in the fact that at a time of turbulent history in the world and rebellion all around, religion seemed forced upon us. Mark seemed to rebel more than most, but I believe he never lost sight of God. I think he had a hard time trusting others and had to go his own way. Always a loner and seemingly lost at times, Mark unfortunately made many of his decisions out of desperation or impulse.

As somewhat of a rebel myself, Mark and I would have some “good” times over the years. I will savor those memories as just mine and his. I began to think of Mark as a brother and felt a closeness to him and his family. His mother was someone Mark could always look to for help in hard times. Thank God for a mother’s love.

Mark and I lost touch a few times along the way, like when he joined the Army and lived in Texas and later when he moved to Louisiana. He seemed drawn to Louisiana because I believe that is where he had the best times of his life. He always talked about how good the fishing was and how someone could still live off the land there. Mark relished that lifestyle. There were no rules and he could survive alone. He never asked much from life except for freedom to live as best he saw it. I know God looked after Mark in those lonely days and I like to think they had many conversations.

It hurts me deeply that at the end Mark was so lonely and tired. I wish Mark would have reached out more to the ones who loved and cared for him the most, but he died alone as he had lived most of his life. It comforts me to know that God judges the heart and knows that his was a heart of gold.

Rest in peace Mark. You will be missed.

A friend forever,
Bob Klunder
Indianapolis, Ind.