Marshall ‘Marsh’ Haaland

March 28, 1938 - September 11, 2021

VISTA, CA — Marshall Harlin Haaland, 83, a long-time resident in Vista, CA, went to be with the Lord in the evening of September 11, 2021, after a five-month battle with esophageal cancer. He died at home, surrounded by his loved ones.

Marsh was born in Sisseton, SD, to Henry and Olive Haaland. He has a younger brother, Duane, of Fargo, ND. The family moved to Fargo, ND, where Marsh attended Ben Franklin Jr. High and then Oak Grove Lutheran High School, where Marsh excelled in football, basketball, track, and baseball.

Marshall was awarded a four-year football scholarship to Concordia College (Moorhead, MN) where he graduated with a double major in History and Political Science. Marshall married his high school sweetheart, Gretel Joy Sigdestad on June 4, 1959. He coached football and taught History and Health/ Physical Education at Starbuck, MN and Winnebago, MN.

Marsh accepted a teaching and coaching job at Vista High School and moved the family from Minnesota to California in 1966. For more than 25 years, Marsh taught History, Geography, and ran the Driver Education program at VHS. In 1989, Marsh retired from Vista High to focus on his two successful businesses – Oceanside Driving School and Escondido Driving School.

In 2012, Marshall was elected to the “Hall of Fame,” for his high school, Oak Grove High in Fargo, ND.

Marshall is survived by his beautiful wife of 62 years, Gretel, a retired elementary school teacher, and his five precious children: Jeff (Nina), Pam, Brendy (Tim), Stefi (Chuck), Chad (Vanessa), as well as his adorable 22 grand- and 14 great-grandchildren.

Marsh’s love, kindness, gentleness, and laughter is sorely missed, but will live on in the hearts of his family. He loved God, his wife and family, his many friends, and football.

Our hearts are broken, but we dwell on the beautiful memories we shared with Marshall, our gentle giant.

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