Merlin H. Hirschorn was born October 4, 1945 to Yordis (Dudovitz) and Charles Hirschorn in St. Paul, MN. He attended James J. Hill Elementary and Marshall Junior High School. Merlin attended Hebrew School at the Talmud Torah of St. Paul and had his Bar Mitzvah in the fall of 1958. He graduated from St. Paul Central High School in June of 1963. After high school he attended the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy and graduated in June of 1968. Merlin was employed as a pharmacist by Snyder Drug, Target Corp, University of Michigan, and Mayo.
Merlin enjoyed playing the saxophone and clarinet and especially enjoyed playing in jazz bands. Merlin joined the Army reserves after graduating from the University of MN. He took an early interest in following the stock market and this turned into his lifelong hobby.
On August 13, 1981 he married Dr. Kathryn Johnson in Phoenix, Arizona. They made their home in Ann Harbor, Michigan, Rochester, Minnesota and Scottsdale, Arizona. After Kathy’s death in 2003, Merlin made Braham his home.
Merlin will be remembered for his kindness and generosity, his love of watching sports and his commitment to making Braham a better place to live through his generous support of the new Braham Community Event Center.
Merlin passed away unexpectedly, Sunday, January 18, 2015 at his home in Braham. He was 69 years old.
Merlin was preceded in death by his wife, Dr. Kathryn (Johnson) Hirschorn; his parents, Yordis and Charles Hirschorn; his father in-law Arlowe Johnson and his uncle Norman Nelson.
He is survived by his mother-in-law Dorothy J. Johnson of Braham; sister Judie (Cary) Shaich of Plymouth, MN; brothers, Neil (Melanie) Hirschorn of San Diego, Gerald (Judy) Hirschorn of San Diego; sisters and brothers- in-law, Barbara (Bruce) Carlson of Rush City and Patty (Terry) Lind of Braham; uncle Bruce Nelson of Braham; nieces and nephews, Ross (Sarah) Shaich, Aaron Hirschorn, Barbara Hirschorn, Jennifer Hirschorn, Dan Carlson, Kimberly Carlson, Ryan Carlson, Doug (Katie) Lind, Jamie Lind; great niece Caroline Lind; other relatives and friends.
A funeral service was held on Thursday, January 22, 2015 at the Braham Ev. Lutheran Church with Rev. Rich Chronis and Cantor Art Schragg officiating. Music was provided by Jim Hill and Marie Meyer. Casket bearers were Cary Shaich, Ross Shaich, Neil Hirschorn, Dan Carlson, Jamie Lind, and Doug Lind. Honorary casket bearers were the Braham Community Center Taskforce. Interment was in the Rice Lake Cemetery in Braham. Arrangements were by the Rock Ingebrand Funeral Home of Braham. www.aifuneralhome.com