Alvin Jochim

Alvin Jochim, age 78, passed away peacefully on November 21, 2019 at the Lutheran Sunset Home in Grafton, ND.
Al, the son of Damion and Mary Jochim, was born in Strasburg, ND on March 16, 1941. The family lived on a farm outside of Strasburg until he was 12. They then moved to Rapid City, SD where he graduated from Cathedral High School in 1959 and went on to attend the School of Mines & Technology.
In 1965, he was united in Holy Matrimony to Mary Alice Pengilly. Together they raised three children: Vonda, Troy, and Nikki.  Al was employed as an iron worker in the early years of their marriage before settling down with his family in Tolna, ND when an opportunity arose for him to begin raising turkeys. When Al retired from farming in 2000, he and Alice began spending their winters in Arizona. He was always known to be able to fix anything and enjoyed doing handyman jobs for other people at the retirement park.  The past three years their summer home was in Grafton, ND.
Al’s faith and love for his family was evident by all who knew him well. He was also hard working and had a competitive spirit. During high school and college he excelled on the football field, and he carried that competitive spirit with him throughout his lifetime as a coach and mentor.  During his years coaching girls softball he led four different teams to state championships and took one of those teams to a national tournament in Pine Bluff, AK.  He was a firm believer in coaching the fundamentals and would tell his teams “You keep running those bases until they throw you out and then you better be sliding” and “I don’t care what you have to do you just keep that ball in front of you as it will only hurt for awhile if it hits you!”   With a never give up attitude he was a leader and an encourager to his family, his friends and the teams he coached.  Sitting at center court, “Let’s Go Blue” are the simple words we will remember him cheering loudly to encourage the players and fans during every girls and boys basketball games he attended.   He was the biggest fan to his children, grandchildren, and numerous others.  Al was also an avid golfer and was ready to play a round of golf anytime.
Al is survived by his wife of 54 years, Mary “Alice” and his children Vonda (Darryl) Collette, Grafton, ND, Troy Jochim (Clare), Bismarck, ND, and Nikki (Rob) Gellner, Grafton, ND.  Al also has seven grandchildren, Kameron (Anne) Collette, Evan (Stephanie) Collette, Molly (Justin) Zahradka, Brady Jochim, Maddie Jochim, Gage Gellner and Gracie Gellner, three great grandsons, and brother in law, Dale Schumacher. He was preceded in death by his parents Damion and Mary Jochim and his two sisters Lillian Jochim and Alice Schumacher.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, November 25, 2019 at 10:30 AM at the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church of Grafton.  Visitation will be Sunday from 5-7:00 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 PM at the Tollefson Funeral Home of Grafton.  Friends may call at the church on Monday for one hour prior to the service.  Interment will be at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Oakwood, ND.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial be made to Unity Medical Center Foundation, Leisure Estates, Altru Hospice or the Grafton FFA Chapter.

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