Mark Edward Harteis

Mark Edward Harteis passed away, peacefully and quietly at his home on November 18, 2025. Anchored in Western Pennsylvania for most of his life, Mark continually explored and cherished the people and communities spread out across the continental United States. Whether it was enlisting in the Navy in 1973 to be stationed in Waukegan, Illinois or flipping on the high beams of his big rig to traverse the stretches of highways across the heartland, he looked for the gems found off the beaten path or buried deep in conversations on the CB, at a local diner, or hardware store.

His uncanny abilities to take people for what they offer and to imbue almost any item with sentimental value, brought him into deep, genuine communion with almost everyone he encountered. For Mark, there simply was not enough time as conversations unfurled into endless directions. He journeyed and wandered his way through every encounter, leaving roses fully enjoyed and stones thoroughly overturned. 

In his downtime, he enjoyed the company of his cat, Chopper, who had the same propensity for meandering through his days. He found solace in gardening, strolling through the woods, and tinkering on numerous home improvement projects. 

Mark married his high school sweetheart, Sharon Harper, in 1973. Despite divorcing, the two maintained a consistent relationship while sharing the responsibilities of raising their two sons, Joshua and Jason. 

Mark is preceded in death by his mother, Helen (1959), father Leo Sr (2012), and brothers Ray (1987), Dan (2020), Leo Jr. (2023). 

He is survived by his brothers Tim and Jack, sons Josh and Jason, and step-son Eric, and grandchildren Edge, Zoey, Tommy, Quentin, and Sebastian. 

In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made in the name of Mark to the following charitable organizations:

Clear Thoughts Foundation: https://clearthoughtsfoundation.org/

Greater Pennsylvania Chapter | Alzheimer’s Association https://www.alz.org/pa

A memorial service and reception will be held on Saturday, December 06, 8:30 AM. Internment will be at the Saint John Gaulbert Roman Catholic Cemetery in Johnstown.