Mark Andrew Harpst

     Mark Harpst was a man who believe that things worth doing were worth doing well. He built with his hands, worked hard, served his community, helped people whenever he could, and above all, loved his family deeply.

     Mark passed away peacefully at home on October 4, 2026, after courageously fighting cancer for the second time. He fought hard, but in the end was exactly where he wanted to be- at home, surrounded by the people he loved most.

     Mark was born March 11, 1960, in McCook, Nebraska. He grew up in Curtis, Nebraska, a place that held many fond memories for him, before moving to Cambridge in January 1977. He graduated with the Cambridge High School class of 1978.

     After high school, Mark spent the summer working for the railroad and attended Kearney State College for a year- a period he remembered simply as “a lot of fun times.” He returned to work for the railroad before beginning what would become an important chapter of his life at Cambridge Memorial Hospital.

     Mark credited his grandmother, Merle Harpst, with seeing something in his before he could see it in himself. Looking back on his life, he wrote, “She saw something in me I didn’t see at the time. I am so grateful for her foresight.” Mark discovered that working with his hands and solving problems came naturally to him and throughout his life he took enormous pride in a job well done.

     He was an exceptionally talented craftsman. Mark could build, remodel, repair, refinish and create. He enjoyed construction projects, making furniture and bringing antiques back to life. In 2001, he designed and built a major addition to his home, including extensive kitchen and bathroom renovations. His family will continue to live among things Mark made with his own hands-lasting reminders of his talent, patience and care.

     Perfectionist might be an accurate description, although Mark had another term for it: he was a “trained professional.” When he refinished a piece of furniture or made something special for Tami, he wanted it done right, and he was proud of what he accomplished.

     But Mark didn’t keep those talents to himself. He was always willing to lend a helping hand, whether someone needed him at work, in his family or elsewhere in the community. He wanted to be remembered as someone who treated people honestly and compassionately, who listened when people had concerns and offered help. Those who knew him would say that is exactly how he lived.

     Mark devoted 24 years to Cambridge city government, serving eight years as a councilman and 16 years as mayor. He cared deeply about the community he called home and gave generously of his time, abilities and leadership to make it better.

     For all that Mark accomplished, however, nothing mattered more to him than Tami and the family they built together. Their story began at the swimming pool. After Mark finished lifeguarding one day, he asked Tami out at the park. Tami says she fell in love with him at first sight. The first date grew into a lifetime together They loved taking trips, but some of their happiest times required going nowhere at all-they simply loved being home and spending time together. As Tami put it, “Our time was always precious.” They were united in marriage on August 8, 1981.

     In August 2026, Mark and Tami celebrated 45 years together. Tami was the love of his life, and they were an incredible team. She was proud to be his wife and proud of the man he was. Mark made sure she knew how important she was to him, always putting his wife first.

     Together they raised their sons, Nathan and Matthew, building a family and a home filled with love, hard work, laughter- and plenty of loud music.

     Mark loved the classics, especially AC/DC, Green Day and Led Zeppelin, and he raised his family rocking out right along with him. Those songs became part of the soundtrack of their lives together. For the people who loved Mark, hearing that music will undoubtedly bring a little bit of him back into the room.

     And usually, where Mark was, there was laughter. He was a funny guy who loved cracking a joke, teasing the people he loved and making others laugh. His teasing was legendary enough that it deserves its own place among the things his family will miss most.

     Mark enjoyed walks and swimming, working in his shop, building things and simply being at home with the people he loved. In his own end-of-life wishes, Mark wrote about how important quality of life was to him. To Mark, a good life meant being able to go out for a meal, swim, work and build things in his shop. They were ordinary things, perhaps, but they were the things that made his life his own.

     Mark also believed in God, and his family finds comfort in knowing that he was at peace.

     It is difficult to sum up a life like Mark’s by listening to the positions he held, projects he completed or things he built. His real legacy lives elsewhere.

     It lives in Cambridge, a community he spent decades serving. It lives in the furniture and homes shaped by his hands. It lives in the people he stopped to help. It lives in a well-timed joke, a project done properly instead of merely “good enough” and the opening notes of an AC/DC, Green Day or Led Zeppelin song played just a little louder than necessary.

     Mark is preceded in death by his grandparents, Don & Merle Harpst and Bill and Viola Hiatt, Jay Nelson Joe and Alice Edwards and Teresa Pineda.

     Mark leaves behind his loving wife, Tami; two sons, Nathan and Matthew; his parents, Don and Alice Harpst; his siblings, Bob (Jackie), J.D. (Vickie), Anne (Joe) Sachs, Mary (Ross), Barb (Frank) Peluso and Brad (Celia) Nelson, Alan Nelson, along with many nieces and nephews and great nieces and his favorite furchild, Lily!

     Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 PM on Thursday, October 8, 2026 at Lockenour-Jones Mortuary in Cambridge. Burial in the Fairview Cemetery in Cambridge will follow services.

     Memorial contributions in Mark’s name may be made to the Tri Valley Medical Foundation his wife, Tami Harpst. Online condolences may be left at lockenour.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Lockenour-Jones Mortuary of Cambridge.