Mark Puddicombe
On January 25th, 2021, like a tree with roots that ran deep... our sweet, funny, and wise father, Mark Puddicombe, took his last breath. Mark died near the town where he was born and his favorite place to be, a Kankakee River cottage that he helped build as a young boy. Mark was 77 years old.
Born in Joliet, Illinois to Lorayne Ericksen and Edmund Carpenter Puddicombe in 1944, forever loyal to his family, Mark was a fun, loving, and supportive father to his daughters, Julie and Laura. His girls share favorite memories of boating and him teaching them to water ski and ice skate on the Kankakee River. They loved sledding in winter and summer rides on the back of his motorcycle when they were young. Most of all, the girls will remember their father's love and care, that he was always there as their rock and support. Mark was smart, intuitive, and curious about life. He found science, chemistry, and nature to be spectacular and loved to share knowledge. Once, when sharing Hubble Telescope photos, he wrote, "Light travels at 186,000 miles per second. Think about light-years… Too big to comprehend.” That's a little what it feels like to lose our dad. An infinite number of words, memories, and moments imprinted on our hearts and minds forever.
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Mark valued and enjoyed lifelong Joliet friendships from Pershing, Hufford, Joliet Central, Joliet Junior College, The University of Iowa, and Northern Illinois University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and Comprehensive Social Sciences. Mark taught for several years, but his interest in chemistry led him to Industrial Water Treatment. He retired from CSI Water Service.
Mark and friends loved his first car, a 1940-something, big black limousine, they named it Clyde, It became a party on wheels. He and his dates later enjoyed another favorite, his vintage, gold Jaguar XKE convertible. Mark loved to play tennis and was an avid music lover. He was a drummer in the JTHS and American Legion Bands. He loved and shared The Big Band Sounds of Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and others. Mark was known for bringing and sharing a small array of percussion instruments where friends (old and new) gathered, sang, and played along.
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Mark was upbeat and cheerful. He would not want us to be sad. He would say, "On we go!", turn up the music on his ancient stereo and get out his drumsticks.
Survived by his daughters, Julie Puddicombe and Laura Ericksen; sister, June (Puddicombe) Pekol; nephew and niece, Bobby Pekol and Alanna Hunter; cousin Eric Egger (Maryann), and their daughters, Erica and Amber.
Preceded by Lorayne Ericksen, Edmund Puddicombe, June and Charles Egger, Amy Pekol and her daughters, Olivia and Grace.
For information, please call (815) 942-5040 or visit his Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com where you can share a special memory or leave a condolence.