Marr Duersch

Alan Marr Duersch, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and faithful disciple of Jesus Christ, passed away peacefully at age 77.

Marr was born on April 14, 1949, to Edward and Gae Duersch the second child of what would become six children

From an early age, Marr dreamed of grandiose adventures. Inspired by films starring John Wayne and Errol Flynn, he clandestinely yearned to be a soaring swashbuckler or courageous cowboy. Little did he know that the horizon of those rip-roaring reveries lay far beyond his youth, waiting to unfold in the quiet chaos of marriage and children.

At Highland High School, he channeled much of that venturesome energy into soccer and javelin. He often recounted the memorable occasion at Sugarhouse Park when he “accidentally” speared a seagull with a javelin—a story that became part of family lore.

That spirit continued into young adulthood, when he served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hamburg, Germany.

His love for the German people and language became a treasured Duersch family Christmas tradition. Each year, Marr sang “Silent Night” in German, joined by his sons in their own LDS mission languages: French, Korean, Portuguese, and Hungarian. Today, the grandchildren carry the tradition forward, keeping languages like German and French alive while introducing English, Spanish, Swahili, and Tongan.

Marr served in the Utah Army National Guard as a member of the 19th Special Forces Group, where he served as a Green Beret. He was proud of his military service and valued the experiences, friendships, and sense of duty that came with serving alongside his fellow soldiers.

Following his mission, Marr married Mary Jean Harrison in the Salt Lake City Temple on April 16, 1971. Together, they built a family that became the center of his life. They would eventually be blessed with five children.

Marr was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served faithfully in numerous Church callings and assignments. His faith was evident in the way he served, loved, and cared for those around him.

Yet, alongside his steady faith and devotion, life in the Duersch home was always filled with plenty of warmth and laughter.

Marr routinely found himself the unsuspecting subject of elaborate scare pranks: the time Uncle Tom pretended to be the Midnight Strangler and had Marr desperately bargaining for his safety; the murderer hiding in the backseat of the car, who turned out to be a forgotten helium balloon; and the infamous Sunday morning when Marr was attacked by a small “dragon” while dressing for church.

Never had there been, nor ever would there be, a young mortal man who received a more deserving spontaneous thrashing from a necktie than Adam did in that moment.

The pranks eventually blossomed to include close family friends. Like the time when Marr’s boys and their friend crept down the hallway while hauling a bewildered neighbor's dog and doing everything they could to smother their laughter. Through the bathroom door, the steady hiss of the shower meant Marr hadn't suspected a thing. In one swift motion, the teenagers yanked the shower curtain open and tossed the dog straight into the steamy deluge. The quiet afternoon shattered instantly into a chaotic mess of frantic barking, flying water, and Marr’s terrified, booming shout as the boys bolted down the hall in hysterics.

Happily, the dog was later returned unharmed, and the story became another unforgettable chapter in the family’s collection of pranks.

These stories reveal the warmth of Marr’s family life. He gave his loved ones not only his faith and devotion, but also the freedom to laugh, play, and create memories together.

As the years passed, Marr’s interests increasingly became whatever interested his grandchildren.

Whether attending softball tournaments and dance recitals, encouraging them to pursue their loftiest dreams, or simply offering a bit of grandfatherly advice, he cherished every opportunity to be part of their lives and to support them in becoming whatever they dreamed of becoming.

His grandchildren knew one piece of advice especially well:

“Remember who you are and what you stand for.”

Those words reflected the principles that guided Marr’s life: faithfulness in service, devotion to family, courage in conviction, and a clear understanding of what mattered most. Through his example and love, he passed those principles on to his children and grandchildren.

Marr leaves behind his beloved wife, Mary; his children, Nathan (Stacey), Adam (Charity), Tyler (Jessica), Jarad (Janae), and Abbie (Dave) Barnett; his 16 grandchildren; and a family filled with stories that will be told, embellished, laughed about, and treasured for generations to come.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, October 3, 2026 at the Lighthouse Ward, 240 Interlochen Lane in Stansbury Park, Utah. Viewings will be held at the same location on Friday evening, October 2, 2026 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM as well as Saturday prior to services beginning at 9:00 AM. Interment will follow in the Stansbury Park Cemetery.

Funeral services will be streamed and recorded via Zoom for those wishing to watch the services.. For those wishing to watch, please click the "Watch Services" link above.

Marr’s adventures may have begun with John Wayne and Errol Flynn, but the life he built was richer than anything he watched on a movie screen—a life of faith, laughter, family, service, and love.

His influence will continue through the people he taught, the family he cherished, and the memories he left behind.

And to those who mourn him, his counsel remains:

Remember who you are and what you stand for.