"The only healthy way to live life is to learn to like all the little everyday things, like a sip of good whisky in the evening, a soft bed, a glass of buttermilk, or a feisty gentleman like myself"

- Agustus McCrae (Lonesome Dove)

Mark Wallace Dizdar, or more fondly called Mi Amor, Dad, Padre, Big and Biggie, passed on to be with our Lord on May 7, 2024. He was 67 years young and lived loving and expressing gratitude for all of the "little things." Mark frequently encouraged that every man should read two books in their life time, the Holy Bible and Lonesome Dove.

Mark was born on December 4, 1956 to Joseph Christopher Dizdar and Martha Ann Wallace Dizdar in McAllen, Texas. Born into a big family with six children, Mark was baptized at First Baptist Church of McAllen. His faith anchored him in love and grace through all of his life. He always extended an invitation to church to all he encountered.

He was always strong. He reveled in his years playing football for the McAllen High School Bulldogs and on to A&I Kingsville Javelinas. Mark's Javelina team won the National Championship from 1974-1976.

While at Texas A&I, Mark met the love of his life, Kelly Miller. She was sitting in the back seat of an old Chevy when he walked out of the locker rooms with no shirt on, "back when I was young and pretty" as he would say. Mark took one look at Kelly and out-loud declared that he would marry her. He frequently professed his love for her around campus, jumping out of trees or hanging out of two-storied windows. They were married in Corpus Christi on August 17, 1980.

Mark and Kelly were madly in love, which was often admired by passersby while they danced in restaurants, hallways or in the middle of the street. They had five children and dreamed of ten. He was the ultimate father to all of his children and their friends. Mark never missed a softball game, track meet or football game. He was the loudest cheerleader in the stands or the finish line and his children's biggest fan. He deeply got to know every friend and frequently adopted them with a nickname and a two-minute hug.

Mark, Kelly and family were deeply rooted in acts of service. Mark supported his community by serving at Calvary Baptist Church, school boards, booster clubs, rotary clubs, hospice board the Gideons and by building beautiful neighborhoods. Mark firmly believed in always having an extra seat, or ten, at his table. He reveled in a full house of last-minute guests and friends that stayed a day or two longer than intended.

Mark was an innovator, entrepreneur and developer. He created solutions that made the home buying process more accessible and affordable for members of his community. Mark built his business up to be a top 100 homebuilder in the United States. After 2008, when the real estate market shifted, Mark continued pursuing and reinventing creative ways to offer attainable housing via projects in Kingsville and Hill Country. He was always spinning many plates of projects and loved being busy in work.

Mark was a "ten." After his kids started learning the enneagram, he declared he had no vices and therefore no number to claim. "Everyone loves me and I love everyone." And, boy, did he. He was generous, kind, a caretaker, intentional, thoughtful and the best hugger on the planet. People craved his hugs, being enveloped in his big and wide arms. He loved unconditionally.

Mark is preceded in death by his father, Joseph Christopher Dizdar, and mother, Martha Ann Wallace Dizdar, brother, Joseph Christopher Dizdar Jr., father in law, Harold Miller, and SND sister, Yaya Tamez.

He is survived by his bride and "total fox," Kelly, his dream-come-true ten children - Maddy, Colin, Baily, Francisco, Abbey, Wade, Joey, Cary, Duke and Nicole; beloved grandchildren - Charlotte, Luka, Gruyere, May Wallace, Marko River, Zachary, Avalee, Marin Joseph and Brut; mother in law, Vernie Miller; sisters Virginia, Denise and Ann, brother Wade, Sunday Night Dinner family, countless "adopted"-children and friends that have become family.

What a BIG LIFE. It's been quite a party.

Funeral Service Information: Viewing and services will be held at First Baptist Church Fredericksburg, 1407 E Main Street, on Friday, May 17th. The viewing will begin at 12:00 pm and the service will start at 1:30 pm. Burial and reception to follow

Flowers welcome or in lieu of flowers, Gideons (https://www.gideons.org/donate) & ALS Foundation (https://donate.als.org/give/287064/#!/donation/checkout?c_src=jumppage