Felix Irwin St. John
Share Obituary:
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.
-
Holly Nelson Sweeney says: We are thinking of all the St. Johns and Moores at this time. God bless you all. We will be in Duluth celebrating Irv’s life in June 6th.
Holly
-
Steve Saetre says:
My deepest condolences to Pat, Mary Jean, Judy, Susan and all in the St. John family. Such a great man Irv was and good family he has as a great legacy that will endure for sure. He was a gentle, strong, kind person, dedicated to students , the teams he coached, his friends and neighbors in the communities he lived in. Growing up down the block on old North Central ave in Warren , it was a treat to visit the St. John household. In later years after the move to Duluth, it was great to see all of you for return visits and the time you came up to the lake place on Lake of the Woods in Ontario. Other times as the years past I know it has been great to hear about the family , letters cards that my parents would get from Irv and Pat and other visits. A special time it was in Warren, a special time for all of us it has been knowing Irv St. John. Blessed be his memory. God Bless, and love, Steve Saetre.
-
John Hartwick says:
Dear Mrs. St. John,
This is John Hartwick. I was at East from 86-89. I wasn’t much of an athlete, but I remember Mr. St. John and his kindness as well as yours. I wish you peace and many happy memories.
Warm regards,
JOHN
-
Dave Engstrom says:
I am a member of the Warren High School Class of ’67. I have fond memories of Mr. St. John. He was a good teacher and a caring person. He also had a good sense of humor. I am, and have always been an athletic klutz. That didn’t matter to him. He always made me feel that I was a worthy person. In fact, I always got grades in Phy. Ed. that I thought were one letter better than I deserved. I am sorry to hear of his passing. I extend my condolences to the family.
Holly Nelson Sweeney 
Steve Saetre 
John Hartwick 
Dave Engstrom
We are thinking of all the St. Johns and Moores at this time. God bless you all. We will be in Duluth celebrating Irv’s life in June 6th.
Holly
My deepest condolences to Pat, Mary Jean, Judy, Susan and all in the St. John family. Such a great man Irv was and good family he has as a great legacy that will endure for sure. He was a gentle, strong, kind person, dedicated to students , the teams he coached, his friends and neighbors in the communities he lived in. Growing up down the block on old North Central ave in Warren , it was a treat to visit the St. John household. In later years after the move to Duluth, it was great to see all of you for return visits and the time you came up to the lake place on Lake of the Woods in Ontario. Other times as the years past I know it has been great to hear about the family , letters cards that my parents would get from Irv and Pat and other visits. A special time it was in Warren, a special time for all of us it has been knowing Irv St. John. Blessed be his memory. God Bless, and love, Steve Saetre.
Dear Mrs. St. John,
This is John Hartwick. I was at East from 86-89. I wasn’t much of an athlete, but I remember Mr. St. John and his kindness as well as yours. I wish you peace and many happy memories.
Warm regards,
JOHN
I am a member of the Warren High School Class of ’67. I have fond memories of Mr. St. John. He was a good teacher and a caring person. He also had a good sense of humor. I am, and have always been an athletic klutz. That didn’t matter to him. He always made me feel that I was a worthy person. In fact, I always got grades in Phy. Ed. that I thought were one letter better than I deserved. I am sorry to hear of his passing. I extend my condolences to the family.