Mark Lindley Haskett

Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Mark Lindley Haskett, passed away on Friday, July 26, 2024, at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia, from cardiac complications. He was born in Nashville, Tennessee on July 12, 1954, to the late Raymond Lindley Haskett, and the former Barbara Ruth Gelzleichter, both from small towns in Indiana. Starting at the age of six, he grew up in Redkey, Indiana, and then in Union, Michigan upon his mother's remarriage to his true dad, his stepfather Carl Leroy Messimore. Mark was the valedictorian of the Constantine High School Class of 1972 (Constantine, Michigan). He began his civil engineer studies at Michigan State that same year. After taking a break from college, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in August 1977 and was the honor graduate from his platoon at MCRD San Diego. Meritoriously promoted, he started his USMC career as a field wireman. Mark was promoted to Sergeant rapidly in the Corps and selected for the Enlisted Commissioning Program. After being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on July 1, 1979, Mark was assigned to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and then attended North Carolina State University full time. He graduated from NC State magna cum laude in 1983, with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. Primarily a Combat Engineer, he traveled the world, including two tours in Okinawa, Japan, and deployments to South Korea, Albania, Macedonia, and Haiti. His various assignments stateside took him to California (twice), Pennsylvania, New York, North Carolina, Maryland, and Virginia. His last active-duty assignment was at the Pentagon, where he helped to design and field the USMC's new assault breacher vehicle. Mark retired from the Marine Corps in 2004, after 27 years of service. His numerous military awards include the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and Korean Defense Service Medal among many others. In August 2004, Mark retired after 27 years in the USMC, and started a second career at the Naval Criminal Investigative Service as Deputy Assistant Director for Security and Facilities. His planning and leadership were key in effectuating the construction of new facilities at MCB Quantico for NCIS Headquarters, including collocating four other Defense Intelligence Agencies in the new green building. He was awarded the Department of the Navy Superior Civilian Service Medal for his outstanding achievements with that successful project. In December 2018, Mark retired from NCIS after 14 years of service. In total, he served our Country for 41 years, well over half of his life. Mark and his wife Lida were married on August 14, 1994, and had raised their three children in Manassas, Virginia since 2001. While their children grew up, he was on the Boy Scout Staff of Troop 35 in Montclair, Virginia, and participated in innumerable events and campouts. He was also a Band Dad with the Forest Park High School Marching Band in Woodbridge, VA, and enjoyed traveling with his family on many fun vacations and adventures. After retirement, Mark became even more involved in the larger community. He volunteered at the ACTS Food Pantry in Dumfries, Virginia, delivering food to homebound people. He also began running in charity 5K races with the Bishop's Events organization, many of the runs involving helping veterans and animal rescue groups. He was awarded his 50 races award in May, and he will be included in a memorial run on August 20, 2024. Mark loved his country, genealogy, history, reading, hiking, traveling, landscaping, his dogs, but most of all he loved his family and doing all kinds of fun and adventurous activities with them. He was a wonderful husband and dad. Mark was predeceased by his parents, his brothers Dennis Haskett and Daniel Haskett, his stepsisters Linda Penney, Judy Bartley and Carla Messimore, and his loving dogs Mikki and Yuki. He is survived by his beloved wife, Lida Stout Haskett and their three children, Dennis Savonarola, Jr., James Haskett (Fernanda Esparza), Barbara Haskett (Alex Metzger), and his dear dog Turbo; His sister Kathie Tilton (John David), his sister Chris Lampert (Bud), sister Tina Reick (Otto), sister-in-law Krista Haskett, sister-in-law Laura Stout, nieces and nephews Christa, Joshua, Ben, Tracy, Eric, Otto, Emily, Liza and Sara; and Godchildren Jeremy, Adele, Elena and Katee, all of their families and SO many people who knew and loved Mark. His cheerful nature, keen insight and advice, sunny smile and laughing eyes, and his generosity in helping and mentoring others was unmatched. He will be greatly missed. Semper Fi, Mark. Mark's Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at 11 a.m. at the MCLB Quantico United States Marine Memorial Chapel, 3019 Embry Loop, Quantico, VA 22134. The family asks that any contributions in Mark's name please be to the ACTS Food Pantry in Dumfries, VA, to any Veterans' Charity, or the Prince William County VA Animal Shelter. Arrangements are in the care of Dellinger Funeral Homes in Woodstock, Virginia. The streaming link is already posted but this is another link that you can go to: https://vimeo.com/event/4485270

Mark Lindley Haskett

July 12, 1954 - July 26, 2024