Obituary of Marcia Ulland

Marcia Ann (Merkel) Ulland passed away in the company of her son and daughter at Solvay Hospice House in Duluth on February 9, after surviving ovarian cancer for 3 years. She was 78. Born in Eveleth to Slovenian parents Albee (Ozanich) and David Merkel, she grew up in Duluth where she graduated from Central High School, attended art classes at UMD and carried on her parents' determined work ethic in managing their 1401 E. Superior St. property for more than 30 years. She is remembered for her warmth, playful sense of humor and artistry with which she approached life and extended to the simplest of things - the loving way she taught origami to her grandchildren or guided them down black diamond ski runs, the fun she had dressing up and travelling with her girlfriends, the graceful elegance and quiet dignity with which she carried herself. Her home of 43 years, overlooking the grassy, white sand dunes of Lake Superior, was an open and welcoming gallery to everyone who knew her, displaying her exquisite sense of beauty, rich relationships and love of adventure that took her all over the world. Her spiritual home, meanwhile - mirroring her love of nature - was the three-generation family farm on The Range cared for by her adoring Uncle Andy.' Much of her life was spent pendulating between the two, gathering friends and family for 4th of July picnics and baseball games, dodging cow pies between bases with bottled beer and food in hand. Or, trudging through the deep snows of winter to retrieve a 15 ft. balsam on which to paint the magic of Christmas. Marcia was a compassionate, loving and thoughtful daughter, sister, mother, mother-in-law and grandmother. She was a fiercely loyal soul friend and remained a strong woman who continued to reach out to others, even while coping with the loss of her beloved daughter Kim. Her strength was never more apparent than toward the end of life when she flew to England to spend a last Christmas with family, in spite of her illness. Her many friends spoke of the significant presence she held in their lives. One learned to extract the contents of Christmas gifts from Marcia over the years, so as not to disturb the intricate wrapping, commenting she now had enough presents to populate a tree. Another reflected on how she'd helped her claim her authenticity, and yet another said she'd been there for her at the darkest point in her life. The lasting image in the heart of another friend is of her sitting by a campfire up on the Gunflint Trail, wrapped in a blanket, the firelight dancing on her face. We remember her for her generosity of spirit, peacefully keeping watch over the Lake, as solid and calm as the earth itself, our love for her as deep. Marcia's life is celebrated by children Randy (Jackie) and Galen; sister Andrea Merkel; grandchildren Coya Hall, Laurel Ulland, Anna Ulland and Nicholas Ulland; former husband Bill Ulland (Ann Glumac); son-in-law Chris Hall (Kelly Marshall), many cousins, nieces, nephews, and numerous friends. A memorial honoring her life will be held later in the year. The family would like to thank Solvay Hospice House for holding Marcia with such dignity in death, and invite donations be sent there in lieu of flowers.