Obituaries: Marvin Glenn Lamppa

Marvin Glenn Lamppa, 86, of Duluth,

and formerly of Babbitt, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019, in the Solvay Hospice House in Duluth.

He was born Feb. 14, 1933, in Embarrass to William and Helen (Sipola) Lamppa. He married Carolyn Card on April 9, 1981, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Marvin received an undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota Duluth and a graduate degree from the University of Minnesota and taught history in Iron Range schools and community colleges for many years. He also developed and taught a course on the history of Minnesota’s mining districts for Bemidji State University before becoming director of the Iron Range Interpretative Program in 1977. During his time as director, he served as a member of the State Historical Records Advisory Board and was instrumental in bringing about the Iron Range Research Center, a state-of-the-art archives and research facility in Chisholm.

His master’s thesis, “Ghost Towns and Locations of the Vermilion and East Mesabi Mining Districts,” was the launching of a passion for historical preservation of the Iron Range. The first Iron Range history course, which he established for the Aurora-Hoyt Lakes High School, is still in use today. Marvin’s unique way of storytelling captured his audience and inspired them to pursue their own passions. He was known as the writer and host of the epic 12-hour PBS documentary series, “Iron Country,” which premiered on WDSE-WRPT in 2000. In 2004 he won the Northeast Minnesota Book Award for a companion book, “Minnesota’s Iron Country: Rich Ores, Rich Lives.”

Marvin was preceded in death by his sister, Carol Koska.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Lamppa; son, Robert (Anne) Lamppa of Ashland, Massachusetts; daughter, Pamela Lamppa of Webster, Massachusetts; stepdaughter, Amanda Teague of Duluth; stepson, Allen James Teague of Priest River, Idaho; brother, William Lamppa of Virginia; grandchildren Christopher Anderson, John Lamppa, Thomas Lamppa, Justin Teague and Sarah Serrilla; and four beautiful great-grandchildren, Molly, James, Clark and Julianne.

Marvin Lamppa will be remembered as a legendary teacher, mentor, coach, author, public speaker and storyteller. He will be deeply missed by family, relatives and friends.

Memorial service: 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28 at Atkins-Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th St., in Cloquet. Visitation will be one hour before the service. Burial will be at Maple Grove Cemetery with a lunch and fellowship at the funeral home after.

Printed in the Pine Knot News, Oct. 25, 2019.