F. Irwin (Irv) (Coach) St. John, May 23, 1932 – May 25, 2015, passed away this past Memorial Day. He is survived by the love of his life of 60 years,
Patricia Moore St. John; his sister, Dr. Mary K. St. John; and his three daughters and their families, Mary Jean & Gary Schraufnagel, Judith & Miles Potter, and Susan & Doug Moe; his 5 grandchildren, Ty & Hayley Schraufnagel, Blake & Arianne Schraufnagel, Jessica Moe, Daniel Moe & Kendall Potter; and his great grandsons, Noah & Aidan Schraufnagel.
Irv and Pat were high school sweethearts from Bemidji, MN. After Bemidji State University, Irv served in the army at the end of the Korean War. Irv and Pat started their family in Warren, MN and lived most of their working lives in Duluth, MN. Irv taught and coached basketball at Baudette, MN, Warren, MN and finished his coaching career in Duluth, MN at East High School where he was a 6-time conference champion, took 4 teams to the state tournament and ended up with an overall record of 364-132 as a head coach. He had a passion for mentoring his students and athletes and kept in touch with many after their playing days. He finished his career there as Athletic Director and started the soccer program. Irv was a competitor all his life and is in the Bemidji State Athletic Hall of Fame, Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the NSIC Hall of Fame.
Irv and Pat retired and enjoyed summers in Duluth, MN and winters in Mesa, AZ at the Apache Wells Community where he loved to golf, play billiards and go dancing with his sweetheart, Pat. His faith and church communities were very important to him and were the foundation for his positive outlook on life and his great spirit, which will be greatly missed.
A service will be held on Saturday, May 30, at 1pm at Apache Wells Community Church at 2115 N Gayridge Rd, Mesa, AZ 85215 and on Saturday June 6, at 1pm at First United Methodist Church at 230 E Skyline Parkway, Duluth, MN 55811
In lieu of flowers, two memorials have been established: Sunshine Acres Children’s Home http://sunshineacres.org/ways-to-give-m/donate. Also, Duluth East High School Foundation http://www.dulutheastfoundation.org/greyhoundsgive/index.shtml. Thank you to everyone who was a friend to Irv – you truly enriched his life.