Ann Lachmund Mars

Ann Lachmund Mars passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on January 27, 2024.

She was born on July 30, 1929, and spent her life loving her family and caring for all those with whom she came to know. She will be deeply missed. 

Ann was born in Duluth, MN, to Otto and Florence Lachmund. Loving the outdoors as a family, she spent her childhood skiing, playing golf, and fishing with her parents and two sisters, Jane and Gail. Music filled their home and their lives. Most evenings, the Lachmunds would roll back the rugs to make room for dancing, playing instruments, and singing. While growing up in Duluth, Ann attended Congdon Park School and Stanbrook Hall. She spent her senior year of high school at Dana Hall in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Ann enjoyed summer visits to see family members in Carmel, California so much that she transferred to Stanford University in California after a year of college at Smith College in North Hampton, Massachusetts. 

She married Bob Mars in August of 1949, and, together, they raised seven children, taking them on adventures to the East Coast and West Coast, camping up the Gunflint Trail, and picnics on Park Point. They were a great team and, Ann gave to her family with her whole heart! Ann loved to read and passed that on to her children. As an expert piano player, Ann enjoyed teaching piano lessons and completed her Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from The College of St. Scholastica in 1981. 

Ann was musical, artistic, and spiritual, an excellent cook, and shared a great sense of humor. She loved having people in her home, creating an atmosphere of curiosity, joy, and great food. Ann often told the story of coming to a point in her life where she felt she needed direction and purpose; it was then that Ann decided to have her faith in God become her guide and to live her life with Christ-filled intention. And she did just that. Her children dearly loved their mom and are forever grateful for the faith, sense of humor, and kindness towards others that she modeled. They remember laughing as she sang in the family fishing boat while untangling lines as Bob asked for quiet. Her 22 grandkids will forever be in awe of Nana’s incredible art room, delicious chocolate sauce, perfect Yorkshire pudding, and the fact that she never skipped dessert.

Anyone who knew Ann knew she showed genuine interest in who you were and how you were doing. She made you feel as if you were the only one in the room, a special gift, indeed.

Ann was a beloved member of St. Paul’s Church for many years. Her community interests ranged from The Duluth Public Library, The Duluth Depot, Matinee Musical, Union Gospel Mission, and Loaves and Fishes, among many others.

 Ann is preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, and her husband, Bob, of almost 67 years.  

She is survived by her seven children, Sue (Dave), Linda (Don), Bob (Jan), Judy (Dennis), Steve (Linda), Jeff (Jackie), and Bruce (Katie) and by her 22 grandchildren Ben, Chris, Don Jr, Ian, Lucie, Mimi, Anna, Casey, Dan, Andrew, Kelsa, Jacob, Max, Sam, Lindsay, Chad, Conner, Lauren, Kelsey, Bryan, Jane and Cal. She also leaves behind 37 great-grandchildren.

 Memorials may be given to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church,1710 W Superior St. Duluth MN 55812, Union Gospel Mission 219 E 1^st St. Duluth MN 55802, or one of your choice.

 Visitation: 5-7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 16, at Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E 2nd St, Duluth, MN 55805 

Service: 11 a.m., Saturday, February 17, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1710 E. Superior Street, with visitation one hour prior. Please visit www.dfhduluth.com to sign the online guestbook.  Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, Duluth, MN, 218-727-3555.