Martin Murdoch MacLean

Martin Murdoch MacLean Jr, of Duluth, died peacefully at home on October 23^rd, 2023, after a long battle with cancer with his wife, Lesley, by his side.

Marty was born in Duluth on November 11th, 1946, and grew up on the shores of Lake Superior.  He graduated from both Duluth East High School and UMD before embarking on a career as a banker with NSBC, Norwest and Wells Fargo. In 1976 he married Lesley MacLean (Sauer), and together they raised their two sons. Marty enjoyed being active in the Duluth community as a member of the National Heart Association, and the local Rotary.  He was also a founding member of the Gitchi Gummi Soccer Club, where he would watch his two sons compete for many years. Marty loved to take cooking classes, go on hikes with his “Geezers Club”, and he loved to talk to anyone and everyone he ever met. 

Throughout his life he enjoyed skiing, as a member of the National Ski Patrol at Lutsen and Spirit Mountain, making waffles for his grandkids, and having lunch with his sisters.  Most of all, he loved to travel with his wife by his side.  Together they drove to all four corners of the U.S. often times preferring the back roads to the highways, because that was where the adventure truly lay.  They cherished their time camping in and around the Black Hills of South Dakota and losing themselves in Wyoming.  After many trips to Europe, their wanderlust took them to Egypt, to explore and sail down the Nile and throughout Africa, where they had hoped to return one day.  Over the past few years, their travels took them down familiar and unfamiliar trails ultimately bringing them to the same destination where they reached their young grandkids, passing on their stories and their love.

Marty was a “Pillar” and will be remembered most as being an incredibly caring, kind, and generous man to anyone he ever met.  He is now at rest with his “Roomie”, Dan, and they are most likely serenading all who are willing to listen in a sweet rendition of “Singing in the Rain”.

Rest now Mart… we love you.

Marty is preceded in death by his parents, Martin and Gudrun and his nephew Danny and brother in law Jeff.

Marty is survived by his wife, Lesley MacLean, his sons Ryan (Hillary) and Morgan (Shelley), his sisters, Diane (Phil) and Laurel (Jerry), his Sisters in Law Ginger (Dave) and Paula (Kevin), his nieces and nephews Denise, Phyllis (Dave), Tony, Beth (Jay) Erin (Walt), Liz (Matt), Brandon, Matt, Sunny (Jay), Griffin (Amy), and his Grandkids, Ferryn, Cayd, and Maisie.