Harriet Julia Marty

Harriet Julia Marty
March 15, 1929 - March 3, 2026

Harriet J. Marty, nee Harriet Julia Koenig, was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, the daughter of a Lutheran Minister, the Rev. Paul Koening (Paula) and the youngest of seven children. She died peacefully on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, just shy of her 97th birthday.

She is survived by her beloved daughter Ursula Meyer (James Newcomb) , and six dear stepchildren: Joel (Susie) Marty, John (Connie) Marty, Peter (Susan) Marty, Micah Marty (companion Ann Rehfeldt), Fran Garcia Carlson (Wes†), and Jeffrey Garcia, nine grandchildren, and eighteen great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her six brothers and sisters: Paul, Richard, Helen, Gertrude, Clara, and her twin Herbert whom she especially cherished. She married Donald Paul Meyer in 1952, and they gave birth to one child in April 1956, Ursula Pauline. Donald, a minister and professor of religious philosophy, died in June of that same year. Twenty-six years later she married the eminent scholar and educator Martin E. Marty, a dear friend and former classmate of Don Meyer. She was happily married to Marty for almost 43 years until his death on February 25, 2025.

A child prodigy on piano, and a profound lover and scholar of music for her entire life, Harriet received a master's degree in piano and voice from the University of Missouri, Columbia. She won a Fulbright Scholarship in 1959 to study opera in Munich, Germany. Harriet had a distinguished career as an opera singer, notably with the Lyric Opera of Chicago and various opera companies where she played many roles, including Madame Butterfly, Mimi in "La Boheme," and Antonia in "The Tales of Hoffman." She was a concert pianist, choir director, teacher, and mentor to countless young musicians. Many of her students went on to work nationally and internationally in acclaimed venues such as the Metropolitan Opera.

During her many decades in Chicago, she taught at several institutions including Concordia University (River Forest), Wheaton College, and Northern Illinois University. She also served as President of the Chicago Musician's Club of Women as well as hosted and played for a series of concerts at the Chicago Cultural Center, a stimulating hub for the arts where she enthusiastically volunteered.

Since 2021, Harriet and her beloved husband "Marty" resided happily at Pillars of Prospect Park, an assisted living community in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Harriet will be remembered for her deep faith, consummate generosity, zest for life, love of family, exquisite fashion sense, undying love of music, and curiosity for and about those around her. Oh yes, and for her unbounded laughter, which reverberates in the lives of all who knew her.

A celebration of life service, with reception and tributes following, will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday March 28th,2026 at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 3045 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Charitable gifts may go to Global Refuge (former Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services), Lutheran World Relief, or the Harriet Julia Marty Music Scholarship fund at St. Olaf College.

Private burial in Wisconsin will take place at a later date.