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In Memoriam ~ Elmer Kohorst, Former SJP Teacher and Coach

Elmer Kohorst, Former SJP Teacher and Baseball Coach

Elmer J. Kohorst, age 87 passed away December 4, 2020 at his apartment at the Mother of Mercy Campus of Care, Albany, MN where he resided with his wife, Aurelia (Derda) Kohorst. Mass of Christian Burial will be 3:00 PM, Thursday, December 10, 2020 at Church of Seven Dolors, Albany. Rev. Christopher Derda, Dorr, Michigan, Elmer’s great nephew will officiate with interment in the Parish Cemetery. Visitation will be in the church at 1:00 PM, 2 hours prior to the service on Thursday.

Elmer was born June 1, 1933 in Albany, Minnesota to Clemens and Anna (Buerman) Kohorst. A 1953 graduate of Albany High School, he went on to attend the University of Notre where met his future bride on a blind date. He married Aurelia Derda of South Bend, IN on September 8, 1956 at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, South Bend, IN.

He captained Notre Dame’s 1957 Irish baseball team that advanced to the College World Series for the first time in school history and became Notre Dame’s first All American in baseball, attaining the honor twice in 1956 and 1957. After graduation he signed with the then Brooklyn Dodgers. He played in the Dodgers organization from 1957 to 1959. Elmer coached and taught at St. John’s Prep and St. John’s University from 1959 to 1971. Elmer was in the insurance business in Albany from 1972 to 2010 when he retired.

Elmer was active in many Church and civic organizations; the Knights of Columbus, St. Jose

ph’s Society, Lion’s Club, Seven Dolors Parish Council, Mother of Mercy Nursing Home Board, Albany Community Hospital Board, Albany Mutual Telephone Board of Directors, Albany Huskies booster club and other organizations. He loved his family, traveling to watch his grandchildren play sports, watching sports (especially Notre Dame), golf, fishing, cooking, and his many friends.

Elmer is survived by Aurelia, his wife of 64 years, his children: Kevin (Mary Scepaniak) of Albany, Joseph (Stacy Adams) of Cedar Park, TX, Therese (Paul Ghyzel) of Centreville, VA, Gary (Janet Burns) of San Antonio, TX: and grandchildren (Nolan, Justin, Bradley, Jillian, Ryan, John, Elizabeth, Stephanie, Benjamin, Nicholas, Elaina) and great grandchildren (Milly, Adeline, Wendell, Carson, Scottie). He is preceded in death by his parents, Clem and Anna and siblings, Mildred of Albany, Ervin of Sauk Centre, Robert of Albany, Jeanette Nistler of Corcoran. His surviving siblings are Mona (Ervin), Leroy (Joyce Welle), Arnold (Suzanne Ruhland), Melvin (Diane Skinner), Luanne (Jeff Smith), Darlene (Frank Cooper), Marlene (Alan Schwinghammer), Viola (Joseph Hagman).

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to be sent to Mother of Mercy Foundation, 230 Church Avenue, Albany, MN 56307