Ted Adelbert Lohrman

Theodore “Ted” Adelbert Lohrman was born to Herbert and Mary Lohrman on February 23, 1927 in Strasburg, Ohio where he joined his older brother, George, three years his senior. Ted passed away on Friday, July 26 in the loving arms of Marlien, his soulmate, and his canine companion, Bandit.

Ted had a very interesting and exciting childhood. Ted spent time with “Ida and Noah” the neighbors, was invited to Cleveland Indian baseball games, on Saturdays, as a guest of Cy Young and spent time with his Grandpa and Grandma Green in the Clay and Coal mines of Ohio. He had fond memories of his youth up until the time of his passing. The summers took his family to the Pennsylvania Mountains, visits to the Statue of Liberty, the Smithsonian and many points on the East Coast. 

Before Junior High, Ted’s family moved to St. Cloud, Minnesota where his father took on a position as Professor of Sociology at St. Cloud State. 

As a youth, Ted enjoyed the outdoors by going to his grandparents’ cabin in Northern Minnesota. While growing up Ted spent time with Leo Kotke who later became a singer, where years later, Leo would play a concert in Alexandria and gave Ted a call. 

Ted attended St. Cloud Technical High School; however, he did not make it to the graduation ceremony but was represented by an American Flag because he joined the US Navy and shipped out. The Navy would be an interesting chapter of his life that would be memorable. While in the Navy, Ted became an electrician aboard the U.S.S. Gilliam. He told many stories of his travels in the Pacific. The most interesting story involved Ted witnessing the “Bikini Atoll” atomic bomb test in the summer of 1946. As a witness, from a close distance, he viewed the nuclear detonation of his Navy ship, the U.S.S. Gilliam. Upon his return to the United States, Ted passed through “Treasure Island” in San Franscisco, where his papers were finalized for discharge. 

Ted returned home where he attended St. Cloud State and received his teaching degree. After graduation from St. Cloud State in 1950, he accepted a teaching position in Henning, Minnesota. A year later he moved to Alexandria and accepted a position with School District #206 as an 8th Grade Earth Science teacher. He would continue in that position for 34 more years. He loved teaching subjects on astronomy, glaciers, fossil identification, and much more. He was known to his students as “The Cookie Monster” for his love of cookies! (any kind) and he was part of the team that started the Long Lake environmental trips. Along with teaching, he also loved sports and was a coach for the cross-country team, football, track and taught swimming during summers on Lake Darling. 

In 1950 Ted married and was blessed with his two sons Daniel and Michael. He enjoyed the outdoors with his boys at their home on Lake Carlos, went on numerous trips to the Boundary Waters, and enjoyed their time hunting up North, at the deer shack in Bemidji, Minnesota. In addition to teaching and coaching, Ted found time to be a pilot with the CAP “Civil Air Patrol” and attend NDSU to get his master’s degree. 

In 1978, Ted married Marlien Thompson. This brought two girls into his life, Pam and Paula.

In 1985, Ted ended his teaching career and retired. What a fun and wild ride this would become. Ted and Marlien enjoyed traveling out West to the Mountains, South to Brownsville, Texas where they wintered for 24 years. They raised Golden Retrievers together, helped build two orphanages in Brownsville, Texas, followed the bear research program under Dr. Lynn Rogers in Ely, Minnesota, they became “Loon Rangers” with the DNR where they counted loons. Most of all, they thoroughly enjoyed being “Docents” at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas, where they spent a considerable amount of time in various roles. The only section of the zoo Ted did not work in was with the Elephant/Rhino/Hippo exhibit. His favorite area was the “Australia” exhibit where he was “in charge” of the fruit bats. When back in Minnesota, Ted enjoyed spending time with the grandkids at the lake, attending dance performances, soccer and hockey games, woodworking, and attending to the wildlife in their yard that they kept well fed, when they were in town. 

Ted is survived by his loving wife, Marlien, of 45 years. Sons, Daniel Lohrman, Townsend, Montana; Michael (Julie) Lohrman, Osakis, MN; Daughters, Pamela Thompson (Joe Collins), Minneapolis Minnesota / San Francisco, CA; Paula (Gary) Szalkiewicz, Eden Prairie, MN and grandchildren, Hunter Lohrman, Mickey Floberg, Sara Lohrman, Jessica Lohrman, Stefan Szalkiewicz (Sarah), Sydney Szalkiewicz (Jeremy Roberge), and Nephew, John Lohrman of Ohio.

Visitation will be held on Friday, August 9, 2024, at Anderson Funeral Home, Alexandria, MN from 12:00 noon – 1:00 pm. 

Memorial Service to follow at 1:00 pm.

Private Family burial at Kincade Cemetery. Refreshments to follow.

In lieu of flowers the family wishes are that donations be made to the St. Cloud VA Medical Center – Hospice Unit. (See details below)

Checks are to be made out to: St. Cloud VA Medical Center.

In the memo section: G P F – 6604 (hospice)

In memory of Ted Lohrman

ADDRESS:

VA Medical Center

c/o Volunteer Services

4801 Veterans Drive

St. Cloud, MN 56303