Elger Horst Lorenzsonn, MD

Elger Horst Lorenzsonn, MD, passed away in his Stillwater, MN home on July 26, 2024, due to complications from cancer.

Elger was born in West Germany on January 29, 1947 to Edgar and Vilja (Nettelhorst) Lorenzsonn, and their family of five emigrated to the U.S. in 1955. The Lorenzsonn family lived in Madison, Wisconsin, and spent many summers at their lake home in nearby Lake Wisconsin. 

Elger was a National Merit Scholar at Madison East High School, and after briefly attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he earned his bachelor’s degree in Botany from University of California-Berkeley. Elger returned again to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to earn his medical degree in 1977. Elger completed his residency at Case Western Reserve University, and celebrated the birth of his son John in Cleveland on Father’s Day 1981. Elger moved his young family to Bath, New York, where he was the sole internal medicine physician in practice, and welcomed his daughter, Elizabeth. Elger found his spiritual home at the Rochester Zen Center, and continued practicing Buddhism throughout his life while enjoying traditional Christian holidays with extended family.

Elger moved to Minnesota in 1991, starting his career with what was then Group Health, Inc, arriving just in time for the Minnesota Twins to win their World Series Championship and take his kids trick-or-treating during the infamous Halloween Blizzard. Elger’s specialty was in Geriatric Internal Medicine, and he remained a physician with Group Health as it became HealthPartners, until his retirement in 2016.

After two marriages ending in divorce, the third time was the charm when Elger met his beloved Barbara Wolle. The duo married in 1998 during a Colorado bike trip, sporting a Just Married sign on the back of their tandem bicycle. Together, Elger and Barb built a home in Stillwater, MN, traveled the world, participated in countless biking, skiing and skating activities, and built their cabin home in Lutsen, MN. Elger finished the Engadin Skimarathon in Switzerland, several inline skate marathons in Duluth, Book Across the Bay in Ashland, Wisconsin, and the annual Tofte Trek near their North Shore home - to name just a few. After Barb passed away 2018, Elger continued many activities memorializing their time together, such as setting up for candlelit cross country skiing events in the north shore near Valentine’s day, maintaining both the homes they built together, volunteering at various races, and tapping maple trees every spring at their Lutsen, MN residence.

Elger was a lifelong learner and enthusiastic volunteer. He was an officer and integral member of the Norpine Trail Association, spending many hours throughout the year on trail maintenance. He was also a member of the Northstars Bicycle Club, enjoying rides near and far, especially the “upsy downsy" routes, where he’d note his natural athletic ability on the downhill portions. He participated in annual loon counts with friends in Northern Minnesota, and volunteered in a variety of natural projects, most recently raising purple loosestrife eating insects through a program with Wild Rivers Conservancy. He enjoyed several classes at the North House Folk School in Grand Marais, building a timber frame screen porch in the woods of his Lutsen home along with other woodworking projects. He was an occasional fisherman, particularly on Lake Superior and the St. Croix River, took a variety of courses through Community Education such as Tai Chi, and later in life discovered his ping pong skills translated fairly well to Pickleball. His wide collection of books, music, and wine spoke to his passion for learning, travel, and enjoying life.

Elger was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in 2024, and received 5 out of 6 chemotherapy treatments at Regions Hospital, passing away before the final session. During his cancer treatment, Elger appreciated his medical team’s advice while staunchly advocating for his own preferences, and reminisced through picture memories during treatments, accompanied by his daughter, Elizabeth. In what turned out to be his final months, Elger’s strength declined, and he accepted mobility help in the form of a walker. He remained optimistic, opting to stick to his previously scheduled chemotherapy cycles, and continuing to make plans for the coming years with dear friends and relatives.

Elger is preceded in death by his wife Barbara (2018), father Edgar (2003), mother Vilja (2017), brother Lennart (1996), father-in-law Harold John Wolle Sr. (2017), mother-in-law Marian Wolle (2013), brother-in-law David Rasmussen (2006), and brother-in-law Steven Shankland (2022). He is survived by his son John Lorenzsonn (Summer), daughter Elizabeth Lorenzsonn (Dimitris Kelly), grandkids Darian, Kimathi and Seanie, brother Axel (Nandini) Lorenzsonn, along with many other Lorenzsonn relatives, Wolle relatives, and communities of friends, neighbors, and colleagues.

A memorial service for Elger will be held on Saturday, October 5, 2024, 2:00 P.M. at Bradshaw Celebration of Life Center, 2800 Curve Crest Boulevard, Stillwater with visitation one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to the Norpine Trail Association.