An exhausted woman walks through the doors of Cattails Place, where she will stay for the next few weeks while her husband undergoes cancer treatment at Marshfield Medical Center. She sinks down into a cozy chair in the lobby and sends a message to her kids, who are with their grandparents back home. Looking up, she notices someone arranging decorations near the fireplace.
The decorator pauses, turns with a big smile and introduces herself as Julie Lang. The two strike up a conversation. The woman shares her family’s story with Julie, grateful for the comforting surroundings and someone to talk to.
Moments like this inspire Julie every day. She has found her calling: making Cattails Place a home away from home for cancer patients and their families.
A Passion for Comfort and Care
Julie is an interior designer and owner of MaryKnoll Designs. She and her husband, Lyle, also own Lang Furniture, a commercial furniture manufacturing company near Marshfield, WI.
Their shared passion for design and helping others led them to say yes in 2020 when asked to help furnish and decorate housing for cancer patients and families.
“I love visiting with the people here,” said Julie. “They are amazing. Giving people a safe and comfortable place to connect with others — it’s our passion.”
When Crisis Sparked Action
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hope Lodge, the existing cancer patient lodging facility in Marshfield, closed unexpectedly. Families traveling for cancer treatment faced overwhelming costs and stress. Marshfield Clinic Foundation immediately rallied the community to help renovate a building into a no-cost lodging option.
Teri Wilczek, chief development officer at Marshfield Clinic Foundation, knew one of her first calls had to be to Lyle and Julie Lang.
“When facing the unexpected closure of Hope Lodge, the Foundation was tasked with opening Cattails Cottage — both quickly and fully supported by donations,” said Teri. “I reached out to my friends the Langs and requested some time to simply get their input about the situation we were facing. Immediately, Julie’s creativity was inspired. They jumped right in and haven’t looked back.”
“It was really a crisis situation in the community,” said Julie. “There are people who come from all over for cancer treatment in Marshfield, and very few families can afford to stay in hotels for weeks at a time. We knew we had to help.”
For Lyle, the project was deeply personal. When he was 18, his younger brother was diagnosed with cancer and his family had to travel to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. They were able to stay at the Ronald McDonald House for free during that difficult time. His brother ultimately passed away, but Lyle never forgot the support his family received.
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This project pulled at our heartstrings. My parents were welcomed with open arms at the Ronald McDonald House. I’ve always had in the back of my mind what a tremendous gift my family was given back then, so when this opportunity presented itself, we felt called upon to help.
From Vision to Reality
The initial cancer patient lodging renovation project was a huge undertaking. Hundreds of volunteers helped clean out the facility, while the Langs got to work imagining the future space.
Lang Furniture designed and created custom-made furniture for each bedroom, while Julie’s design talents created a cozy space with a cottage feel.
In just eight short weeks, Cattails Cottage opened its doors, housing hundreds of families over the next three years. But the need kept growing.
Another Opportunity
In 2023, Marshfield Clinic acquired the cancer patient lodging facility which had previously closed. While Cattails Cottage had 11 rooms, this facility included 12 suites and 10 bedrooms, private bathrooms and more capacity for families. Julie and Lyle didn’t hesitate to help again.
Julie refreshed the main floor, including the living room, library and kitchens, with new decor and special touches. Upstairs, the Langs donated all the bedroom furniture for the facility, while donors funded flooring, paint, window treatments and more.
“We created a prototype room so donors to see the impact of their gift,” said Julie. “That inspired more support.”
A Place of Healing and Connection
Cattails Place opened in February 2024 and is 100% supported by philanthropy. Thanks to generous donors like the Langs, families have a safe, comfortable space during cancer treatment — at no cost. The old Cattails Cottage facility is planned to reopen as a housing option for families of trauma patients, also supported by donations.
Julie still visits often, coordinating seasonal decor in collaboration with volunteer Donna Fetting and designing new sponsored rooms. Her favorite part? The people.
“One of the biggest surprises for me has been how you bond with the people,” said Julie. “Their stories are tough and hard to hear sometimes. But if you can just sit and talk to somebody, that’s all people really need — a support system. You wouldn’t get that in a hotel.”
Thanks to the Langs, Cattails Place is truly a home.
Give for Hope
Every day, people of all ages walk through the doors of Marshfield Medical Center for cancer treatment. Your gift helps keep Cattails Place running, surrounding cancer patients and their families with everything they need to get better, faster, close to home.
100% of your donation stays local and makes an immediate impact.