Marcia Schwarz

Her wings were ready, but our hearts were not - Marcia Renee (Hoglund) Schwarz, 66, Bismarck, crossed into heaven to meet her daughter, Stephanie, on Dec. 2, 2016, at CHI St. Alexius Health, Bismarck. A celebration of Marcia's life will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 502 N. Fourth St., Bismarck, with one hour visitation preceding the service. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery, Bismarck.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Eastgate Funeral Service, 2302 E. Divide Ave., Bismarck.

Marcia was born in Aberdeen, S.D., on April 15, 1950. Her first home was in Ellendale, after which her family moved often including Minot, Grand Forks, and eventually Fargo. She graduated from Fargo North High School in 1968.

Marcia attended college at North Dakota State University and graduated from St. Luke's College of Nursing with a degree as a registered nurse in 1971. It was here that she met her husband of 45 years, Mathew Schwarz, whom she married in 1971. After college, they made their home in Bismarck, where Marcia worked as a nurse in area hospitals until her daughters were born, after which she cared for their special needs.

One of Marcia's great joys was playing piano and flute. She was a member of the NDSU Gold Star Band, and was in the marching bands that performed at the Bison football team appearance at the Camellia Bowl game in the late 1960s. She was a past member of the Bismarck Elks band and also sang with her husband in several performances of the Christmas Messiah at their church. She enjoyed reading, baking, sewing, knitting, embroidering and various craft activities. She made numerous Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls for friends and family. Her baked cookies were enjoyed by many who knew her.

Upon the birth of her daughters, Marcia put her nursing career on hold. It wasn't until second daughter Jessica was born that mother and both daughters were diagnosed with Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy. She and her husband spent many weeks at their bedside in various hospitals in Minneapolis, Minn., Houston, Texas, and Denver, Colo. Marcia is remembered by family and friends for her dignity, quiet strength and dedication to her daughter's needs.

With her young family, Marcia enjoyed going on many trips and vacations as healthcare needs allowed. This included camping with their motorhome throughout many national parks, Disneyland and the lake. The family also went on a Make-A-Wish sponsored trip with the girls to Disney World in Florida. Marcia was also able to enjoy a cruise in the Caribbean Islands and a trip to Hawaii with her husband.

She is survived by her husband, Mathew; her daughter, Jessica; her sister, Laurel (Paul) Reynolds, Keystone, S.D.; her brother, Louis Hoglund, Pelican Rapids, Minn.; her brother, Jeffrey (Lu) Hoglund, Harwood; her brothers-in-law, Gerald (Darlene) Schwarz, Bismarck, and Delton Schwarz, Hazen; her sisters-in-law, Anita Schwarz, Bismarck, Betty Boyko, Ft. Scott, Kan., and Sarah (Chuck) Mork, Mandan; and many nieces and nephews.

Marcia was preceded in death by her daughter, Stephanie (Feb. 14, 2004); her parents, Iris and Willard "Red" Hoglund; one brother, Will Hoglund, Audubon, Minn.; one brother-in-law, Don Schwarz, Hazen; and a great-niece, Molly Iris James, Spearville, Kan.

Marcia will be dearly missed by her family, caregivers and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to The Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Go to www.eastgatefuneral.com to share memories of Marcia and sign the online guest book.