Former Northeast Indiana Congressman Souder Loses Battle With Cancer

By Staff Reports, Indiana Capital Chronicle

September 27, 2022

Former northeast Indiana congressman Mark Souder died Monday following a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Souder, 72, of rural Allen County, served the district from 1995 to 2010.

His family broke the news on Facebook, saying “Mark was a strong leader and passionate about his faith, family, and his country. We want to thank you for all the kind words, prayers, and support over the past months.”

He went public with his diagnosis earlier this year. Rep. Martin Carbaugh, R-Fort Wayne, also presented him a Sagamore of the Wabash award for his service to the state.

“Mark was a constant source of support and advice for me during my six years serving northeast Indiana in Congress. I will miss his regular Facebook messages and his stories about his 15 years of serving in the same job,” said Third District Congressman Jim Banks.

Before serving in Congress, he worked for then U.S. Rep. Dan Coats, a Republican. Then he beat incumbent Congresswoman Jill Long Thompson in 1994 to join the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Mark dedicated his life to politics from an early age. He started as a member of college Republicans, then worked on campaigns, then served under former Rep. Dan Coats in Washington DC, before he was elected to serve northeast Indiana in Congress,” Banks said. “He was an effective advocate for our conservative and pro-life values during his time in Congress and did much to support our national parks in his leadership roles. His life after leaving Congress in 2010 is an example to many of us of grace and redemption.”

His career ended abruptly when he resigned in 2010 after admitting he had an affair with a staff member. Reports at the time said the affair came to light after the couple was found in a parked car in a nature preserve in Whitley County and a conservation officer tapped on the window and told them to get moving.

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