106 West Main Street
P.O. Box 146
NEGAUNEE, MI 49866
Phone: 906-475-4631
Fax: 906-475-5561
REV. MARCIA SOLBERG REV. MARCIA SOLBERG
In Memory of
REV. MARCIA LORRAINE
SOLBERG (Koschade)
1956 - 2017
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"With dearest thoughts of Pastor Marsha. She will be missed! My deepest condolenc"
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Obituary for REV. MARCIA LORRAINE SOLBERG (Koschade)

REV. MARCIA LORRAINE  SOLBERG (Koschade)
Reverend Marcia Lorraine Solberg, age 61, of Ishpeming, passed into the sleep of death at her home on Thursday, December 7, 2017, and awaits the resurrection on the last day. She was in the loving care of her family and Lake Superior Hospice.
Marcia was born May 10, 1956, to missionary parents, Rev. Alfred and Beatrice Koschade in Madang, Papua, New Guinea. She was baptized on July 15, 1956, and affirmed her faith on May 2, 1971. Her mother was a pharmacist from Detroit, MI, and her father was from Adelaide, Australia. Her paternal grandparents had also served the mission field in New Guinea, her grandmother having gone out as a nurse from Northeastern Iowa and her grandfather from Australia. Though Marcia was born in New Guinea, she had her first birthday on the ship coming to the U.S.A., and her only memories of New Guinea were what she heard from her parents’ stories.
Marcia served her country through the US Army Reserves, 417th Maintenance Company in Faribault, MN, 1979 – 1985. Her educational training was at Montgomery-Lonsdale Public Schools in Montgomery, Minnesota; Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa (A.A.); Winona State University in Winona, Minnesota (B.S. in Music Education); Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, St. Paul, MN (M.A. in Pastoral Theology and Ministry); and Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN (D.Min.).
Survivors include her husband, Steve, whom she joined in marriage on June 8, 1986, in Minneapolis, MN; their daughters, Anna Marie Solberg (24) and Sara Elizabeth Solberg (23), both of Ishpeming; a sister, Miriam D. LeMaitre of Ann Arbor, MI; a brother, Mark D. Koschade of Longmont, CO; and several sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by a child, David, in miscarriage; her parents; sister, Esther I. Koschade; and brother, Ernest A. Koschade.
Certified an Associate in Ministry in 1989, Marcia and Steve served Bethesda Lutheran Church in Moorhead, IA, and St. John Lutheran Church in Dunlap, IA, for five years. As the girls were little Marcia was on leave from call, but served the church in various ways including pulpit supply, interim ministry, and as a musician, workshop presenter and educator. Upon her ordination in 2005, Pastor Marcia served First Lutheran Church in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and has been at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Negaunee with Pastor Steve since March of 2009.
Marcia has enjoyed hiking, biking, kayaking, swimming, and camping in the UP. She has served the schools and communities by substitute teaching and accompanying musical performances; volunteering with dog foster care and other means through UPAWS; work and support for Love INC CUP, Room at the Inn, and CROP Hunger Walk.
God calls us to walk with Him in the work of His kingdom – of ushering in His kingdom where we are and the ways in which we can. Thanks be to God for making us God’s partners. May we always be blessed to be a blessing to others.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, December 13th at Immanuel Lutheran Church, with Rev. Katherine Finegan, Bishop of the Northern Great Lakes Synod of The ELCA officiating and Rev. Thomas Skrenes, Bishop Emeritus as co-officiant. Interment will be in Bethany Lutheran Church Cemetery, Aniwa, WI. The family will greet family and friends from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Tuesday, December 12th at Koskey Funeral Home and from 10:00 am until the time of services at 11:00 am at the church on Wednesday. A ‘potluck’ style luncheon will be held immediately following services in the church fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed in Pastor Marcia’s memory to Immanuel Lutheran Church or the Northern Great Lakes Synod.
Special thanks are given to the wonderful team of medical care-givers (led by Dr. Acharya and Dr. Metcalf) and most recently Lake Superior Hospice who have surrounded Marcia and her family throughout the past years; the loving people of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Negaunee, and to all who have offered prayer, presence and support in many and various ways.
May the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

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