Georganne Hunter

Georganne's Story

An amazing musician, inspirational teacher, and loving companion, Georganne Hunter, peacefully and courageously began her next life's adventure on July 7, 2025 from her home in Duluth, Minnesota after a long journey with cancer. Georganne was surrounded by loved ones who cherished her spirit and memories. She had just reached her last desired achievement in this life, celebrating 80 years with close friends and family.

Georganne Hunter was born on June 23, 1945 in Cedar Falls, Iowa to Thielma Jean "Bairn" Bairnson, native to Cedar Falls and Richard Charles Blanding of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Georganne graduated from Detroit Lakes High School in 1963. She was a cheerleader and played the bass drum in the marching band because she was the only one that could hold a beat. She also enjoyed playing the organ at the local church. She went on to study music at Cottey College from 1963 to 1964 before transferring to the University of Minnesota main campus where she continued until 1968. On May 17, 1970, she finally obtained a Bachelor of Arts from the Colorado Women's College.

In 1966, Georganne married Philip Weiser and gave birth to her son, Craig, on June 16, 1971 in Denver, Colorado. After her divorce from Philip in 1979, she moved with her son to Duluth, Minnesota in 1981. To support her family, she took on various jobs working at several bookstores in Denver and Duluth. In Duluth, she also spent many years doing construction work insulating houses for the CAP weatherization program. All the while, she was teaching piano. In 1989, her son graduated from high school and she married her current husband, Stephen Dahl. She is survived by her spouse, Stephen, her son, Craig, daughter-in-law, Christiane, and her two granddaughters, Josephine and Amelie as well as her youngest sister, Carrie Pagels.

She pursued a successful career in music, transcending beyond teaching the piano, harp, hammered dulcimer, and tin whistle. She inspired and enabled many of her students to learn an instrument, win Scottish harp competitions, and forge their own careers in music.

Throughout her life, Georganne was passionate about traditional Renaissance and Gaelic music, gardening, and traveling. While she was in Denver, she put on the first Renaissance festival there. Her love for the Gaelic harp came after hearing one at the Renaissance Faire in California. Celtic music was always a central part of her life, which she got from her great grandmother, who immigrated to the U.S. from Shetland as a singer with a Chautauqua group. Shortly before leaving Denver for Duluth, she bought a Celtic harp kit and built her first harp. She continued to develop her skills and acquired more and increasingly sophisticated harps until she successfully released two solo CDs. She gave the first one to herself as a 50th birthday present.

Georganne Hunter played in many musical groups and bands. In 1984, she co-founded the iconic, beloved Celtic band, Willowgreen, based in Duluth, Minnesota. Willowgreen is known for traditional, contemporary, and original music from Ireland, Scotland, and Newfoundland. Over the past four decades—with a 15-year hiatus—Willowgreen has released six albums, including their most recent release in 2025. Georganne also played with the band, Wild Thyme, and collaborated on an album with Arna Rennan, a Norwegian-American musician. She also played her harp for numerous weddings and other social events.

Wherever Georganne went, flowers, herbs, and fruit trees would flourish in backyards and front lawns, and in the northern woods of Minnesota. She thrived in her gardens, soaking up the nourishing sunlight, fresh air, and pure nature. She was a goddess of the earth, in harmony with the powers of the natural world. In winter, when her plants were dormant until spring, she would go sledding with her dogs in the icy, snowy weather, and then relax with her yoga, knitting, and exploring the writings of various authors with her book club.

Combining her love of Gaelic music with her passion for travel, she seized every opportunity to study the harp in Scotland and Ireland, and also performed at venues ranging from Newfoundland to California. She shared these passions with her granddaughters. She visited harp workshops with Josephine in Cromarty, Scotland and Elmstein, Germany. She also enjoyed a summer trip to Lake Garda in Italy with Amelie and family.

Georganne will be remembered for her kindness, generosity, and the love she shared with everyone she met. She was beautiful inside and out. She was a caring mother, grandmother, and wife, in addition to being a talented and creative performer, teacher, and mentor. She adored her dogs, who added much joy and excitement to her life. Her legacy is one of inspiration, warmth, and calm strength, with a love of music and healing joy. May her spirit live on in the hearts of all who knew her, and may she soar on her present journey, playing her harp eternally.