Keri-Lynn Kohut

I just found out last night that Keri is gone. We had been out of touch since last year. I can’t believe it. How can someone so amazing and full of life just be gone? In her presence, her brilliant spirit made those around her glow. With Keri, everyone was special. Keri and I went to college together. We remained close friends afterwards. For years Keri and I would spend almost EVERY weekend going dancing. We laughed together and cried together. She is the only person I’ve EVER met that loved dancing as much as I do. Keri always put herself second to everyone else. She adored her little sister, was devoted to and protective of her mother. Through extensive volunteer work, Keri shared herself and her gifts with people that didn’t even know her. I never knew a more generous woman. I missed her before she was gone. Now she will be missed forever. I love you Keri. You were my shining star. I will look for you on clear nights. God bless.

Corrine and Carol - please know that you have been in my thoughts and prayers during this time of loss and will continue to be. Keri's love and light will live on in all who have known her. I wish you peace and serenity. A warm embrace to you both - Jennifer

Keri entered our lives at a very young age, my mom was her daytime babysitter and I was the babysitter the rest of the time. I loved that little girl more than life itself. I literally became a part of the family and when they moved it broke my heart just as it is broken now. Unfortunately the last time I met with Keri in 1991 she didn't remember me but was pleased to spend some time with us. I have recently had a "family tree" painted on my wall and now Keri is the first "family member" smiling at me from the centre of the tree.

Keri rests in that perfect place, and her family is in my prayers.

What a wonderful person, what a terrific smile and heart...so sad! She was a great friend to my son, Mike, and like a daughter to me. I am so sadden by her death. Our sympathies to Keri's family. What a special person to have in your lives.

Gary and Joyce Hanson

I met Keri during my year as a German exchange student at St. Thomas. She volunteered during orientation week and the coming months. I remember her being full of energy and having such a positive attitude towards life. She always had a big smile, friendly words and a hug for you and we felt very welcome during our stay. Keri definitely contributed to the very best memories I have from my year at St. Thomas. My deepest sympathy to her family.

It saddens me to hear of her untimely passing. I remember spending an entire summer playing tennis with Keri back in Decorah. She was a friend to all.

I worked with Keri at Aveda for over a year. She was the sweetest, kindest person I knew there. She was bubbly and so kind to everyone she came accross. I am sorry for your loss. It is so true that her spirit will live on in the lives of all the people she touched. I will never forget her, and I feel that it was a privilege to have known her.

i am sorry for your loss

such a tragic way and all and so young and vibriant! may GOD bring time of peace and grace on you and HIS light shine over this situation. i just met her once, at Twin Cities RISE! and was very well recieved by her..

dave

I am so saddened to hear of Keri's passing. Growing up, I knew Keri as Corrine's older sister and I will always remember her as being such a sweet, sincere, and wonderful person. Corrine and Carol, please accept my deepest sympathies; Keri's warmth and energy will live on in all of us who knew her.

We can not begin to express how profoundly saddened we were to hear of Keri's passing. Our memories of Keri are from her teen years in Decorah. Even as a teen her outgoing personality and generous spirit were always visible. We know she will be missed by everyone who has ever known her.

To Carol & Corrine - our thoughts are with you at this difficult time and we extend our deepest sympathy.

Lynda & Rick

Dear Corrine and Carol,



I'm deeply saddened to hear of Keri's sudden departure. She was such a sweet, kind and beautiful soul who undoubtedly touched and improved the lives of everyone she met. I have many fond memories of the times we all spent together and will always smile when I think of Keri and her infectious laugh! I wish you comfort in this very difficult time.



Love,



Angie

I send out my deepest sympathies to all of the people who were touched by Keri and who will be missing her. From the beginnings of our friendship at St Thomas to present I couldn't have asked for a better, more thoughtful, genuine friend. I am so very blessed for having had her friendship as well as for the people and experiences she led me to. Her spirit will live on in all of us. peace, erin

Keri is a miracle unfolding and I see her great smile here in Sauk Rapids; we have everything if we have a friend like Keri.



Erin's Mom, Kay

To all of Keri's family I wish to express my deepest sympathy and will keep them in my thoughts and prayers.

When I think of Keri, I find myself thinking of active words: talking, laughing, smiling, listening, dancing (of course!), and above all-- loving and caring about her friends, her family, and the world around her. She had a truly unique way of engaging with the world, and with the people surrounding her. My days at St. Thomas and at the house on Marshall avenue were better because of her, and I have been wholly unsurprised to learn that her colleagues and friends from everywhere she worked and volunteered feel the same. Keri, you will be missed by many and forgotten by none.

Dear Kohut Family and Friends~ My deepest heartfelt sympathies go out to each of you. I knew Keri from UST and our paths would cross over the years. Anyone who encountered her is truly blessed to have met her because her energy and sweet spirit made a lingering impression.... we're all better for having her in our lives.

Even though we've lost touch over the years, I will always remember my times with Keri. She was good competition on the tennis court and made me work harder to be a better player. We had such good times in high school, and I will always have those memories. What a sweet soul. I'll miss you Keri.



Krista

Hello Carol,Just wanted you to know that you are in my prayers.I didn't know Keri but it sounds like she was just like you. Always smiling,laughing and having a fun time wherever she went. She will be missed but her spirit will live on, in your hearts.I'm thinking of you!!! Love Belva

Although I hadn't talked to Keri for quite some time, I am sad for the loss of her boundless optimism and spirit. This came as such a shock. She was such a positive person in every sense of the word. I remember her as being unfailingly willing to support any of her friends, her openness to discuss absolutely anything, no matter how much she would disagree with you (and of course, she'd let you know straight off how much she disagreed with you), and her constant smile. We'll all miss her.

To Keri's family,

I am so sorry for your loss of such a wonderful daughter, sister and great friend. Keri's void is felt by many people that she touched during her short but vibrant life. My thoughts and prayers are with you and dear Keri.

-Randi

Drew and Keri studied together at St Thomas, and I first met her at their 10 year college reunion. We kept in touch regularly after that - enjoyed mass at the Cathedral, brunch outings, egg-roll dinners and lots of laughs... Keri was one of the very few invited to our wedding celebration a year ago. Her magical smile illuminates one of our favorite photos - taken as we left the chapel hand in hand.

To Keri's loving family, thank you for the beautiful celebration of life you allowed us to attend on Saturday. It was such an emotional moment, never to be forgotten. Our deep sorrow can only be soothed by the wonderful memories we all share of Keri.

Keri is definitely a highlight of my memories from high school. She was so much FUN and had such a huge, huge heart. She embraced life fully and truly believed in making a difference in the world and in people's lives. Her joie de vivre is an inspiration to all who are left behind. Although we have not been connected, I will miss her so much. I will miss knowing that she is out there making the world a better place with her actions and her terrfic smile. My deepest sympathies to all of her family and friends. Dawn

I can't help laughing every time I think about Keri - she was just so funny. So many memories of my years at UST invovle her doing something that made me and everyone else laugh. She is a big feature in my college years and will remain in my heart and head forever.

I was a classmate of Keri's at St. Thomas and remember her positive spirit, megawatt smile and amazing energy. She was always so dang happy! God bless your family.

As a classmate of Keri's from high school, I can certainly add my remembrances of Keri's energy and zest for life. Her smile was contagious and her friendship genuine. I pray for comfort and peace for so many family and friends as you grieve her death.

Corrine and family,



I am truly sorry for your loss, and am thinking of you all. My prayers are with you as you move forth in your lives. Take care, and my thoughts are with you all.



Peace, love, and happiness,



Maren

To the Kohut family I extend my deepest sympathies! I have found myself reliving a lot of high school memeories and Keri was such a fantastic person!! It is so unfortunate that THIS world will now be without her. I will keep you and Keri in my thoughts and prayers!

I had the priviledge of attending high school (DHS) with Keri. I remember playing tennis with Keri on many occasions;she was always quite good and could usually beat several guys on the team, which I think she thoroughly enjoyed. Most of all I remember a truly wonderful person who always had a warm smile and something pleasant or funny to say to everone. My deepest sympathies to her family.



Derek

I will remeber the smile Keri seemed to always have on her face!! No matter how bad her day was when she met someone they always got a smile and a greeting. As a former classmate of Keri's our thoughts and prayers are with you now and always.

To Keri's family (and certainly Keri who will always be with us in our hearts)



The sad news reached us via a good friend over here in Luxembourg. Agnès and I met Keri when we spent our exchange year at the UST in 1992/93. We will never forget the wonderful time we had with the international students and all those good UST people who took care of us including Keri. She always had a smile and a big hug for us and we never met such a volunteering person like she was. We will miss her a lot !

Agnès & Stefan (+ 2.5 years Anouk now)

I worked with Keri at Twin Cities RISE! where she worked part time as a teacher. I met her while volunteering and recruited her to come work for our organization. Keri was such a light in so many lives. She had such warmth and you just felt like a better person when you were with her. I feel so fortunate for having had her in my life. I can't picture what it will be like without her there. Keri had an energy like no one I've ever met before. She was a gifted mentor and instructor. Her loss will be greatly missed. I'm so thankful for the time I had her in my life. Carol, Len, Corrine, and Jill you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Love, Kait

Keri shed light and joy wherever she went. The few times we gathered together with college friends over the past 10 years were the most memorable, laugh-out-loud events of my adulthood. My sympathies for your loss of this wonderfully spirited woman.



Warm regards,

Nikki

I have many fond memories of Keri during our undergraduate years at St. Thomas. She left an impression on everyone she met and all in her presence felt important. Her contagious smile, embracing personality, and love of life will be forever remembered.

Keri was one of the best peoeple I met at the University of St. Thomas. Even members of my family remember her from brief meetings. I was so excited to have her seek me out when she travled to San Francisco earlier this year. I hoped to continue our renewed contact. I am still in shock and so, so sad. Keri was such a great person, as shown here. She will continue to touch our lives, I'm sure.

To the Kohut Family

Keri was a spirit not to be contained. Since Tuesday I have seen Keri everywhere and cried, or as my son said, leaked at all times. I have many memories of Keri but most of all, remember her for her love of life, her love of friends but most of all, her heartfelt warmth and laughter when I was with her. I will miss her with all my heart and am having a hard time thinking of the future without her. We will miss you, Keri.

Love, Gary and Dianne

To Keri's family, my thoughts and prayers are with you all.

As a Decorah High School classmate of Keri's, I remember her vivacious zest for life. Her adventurous spirit was contagious, and she obviously impacted the lives of so many people who are better for having known Keri, even if only for a short time. She will be missed.

I am a faculty member at St. Thomas, and Keri was in the very first mathematics course I taught there. She was a motivated, bright student in class and a lively, joyful person outside of class. She became my daughters' first babysitter because I trusted and liked her so much. I lost contact with her after graduation, but I have thought about her over the years, hoping my daughters grow up with the same integrity and joy for life that Keri had. To Keri's family -- I am so sorry for your loss, you are in my prayers.

my thoughts and prayers are with you & your family...blessed be.

It's so hard for me to understand this tragedy. Despite the distance, Keri was one of those friends that I always thought that I would have in my life forever. I feel so much hurt now that she is gone and I will always cherish the times that we had together. Her spirt, energy, and laughter will be missed.

I first met Keri at Max and Jill's wedding - we were in the wedding party together. I can't remember a time I had so much fun with one individual in a short two day span (rehersal and then wedding). We have had lunch and e-mail conversations since that time. I can tell you, I am a better person for knowing someone who at 34 was so full of life yet had lived such a fulfilling life. To Keri's family - my warmest thoughts in your time of great sorrow. Keri will be missed - but never forgotten.

Hey Pumpkin!



That greeting is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Keri. I can't remember a time when Keri wasn't cheerful and smiling. She was always looking out for others and offering a helping hand. She had a positive, "can-do" attitude, but I appreciated her sarcastic moments too. I agree that her spirit will always be with us. We are blessed to have shared time with her.



Love and Peace

Robin

We were given a gift with Keri, Our time with her was too short but we will treasure it forever in our hearts. We love you and will miss you very much.

Brown Aveda Institute-Ohio

I saw Keri almost everyday working with her at the institute. There was not a day that went by that she didnt touch someone with her beautiful smile or the warmth in her hugs. She was my little K-K and we will all remember her for the incredable person she was inside and out. Never forget her face or her laugh! Always remember!

Keri, you will always be in our hearts. Your spirit, your sense of humor, your thoughtfulness and your kindness will be with me forever. You will be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to your family.

I'm a faculty member in the Psychology Department at the University of St. Thomas and several of us here remember Keri vividly and fondly. She was a wonderful person and a great student -- always positive and full of life. Our memories of Keri will live on here at St. Thomas.

I only worked with Keri so I didn't know her personally. I will miss her perky personally and her professionalism. I knew if I needed an answer to a question, she would get it for me and in record time. I am sorry for this lost soul on earth. I wish there were more people on this plant like Keri. I know that I am not the only one at Shapco Printing that will miss her. Bob, Dave, Deb and myself have been forever changed because we knew her. I am glad that we got to spend the time we did with her. My thoughts and prayers are with her family at this sad time.

I was one of Keri's psychology professors at St. Thomas. She was a joy in class. She loved life and loved to learn. She was committed to social justice. I cherish the times while she was at UST, and even after she graduated, when she would stop by my office just to chat about life and her future. I will never forget her face and her delightful laugh. Her family and friends are in my thoughts and prayers. She made a difference to many during her short life. She will be missed.

Your energetic presence will be deeply missed. My thoughts are with your family and friends. I will be celebrating your unique gifts and character in spirit.

Our deepest sympathy to your family on the tragic loss of Keri-Lynn. She will be deeply missed by everyone at Aveda. Our prayers are with you.



Sincerely,

Clint and Cheryl Lindberg

She was such a free spirit and a truly fantastic person.

Keri always had a smile on her face and in her voice everytime I would speak with her. She was one of those people who - no matter how bad your day was going - made you stop and let go of it. She will truly, truly be missed.

For anyone who reads this message:

It was a gift to know Keri. She was fun, fiesty and full of life. She brightened my days when I would see her at the Institute. Her knowledge and skills were impressive, her humor was contagious and her dimples were childlike. I will miss her. I think her spirit will be felt at Aveda and in my heart for a long time to come. She has touched many people and I am happy to have been one of them. Brightest Blessings and much love to all who knew and loved her.

Sheri Moe

Kohut family, our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time of loss.

Keri,

You are/will always be an angel

I will miss you dearly with all my heart

Max

Keri, I will always cherish you and the relationship we shared. You are truly a wonderful sister/friend. I love you with all my heart.

Keri

I will always be your #1 brother-in-law and will miss you dearly with all my heart

You truly are/were an angel

Max

Keri, you were a wonderful sister & friend. I will love you forever. You are deeply missed.

I will always remember Keri as a vibrant young woman, full of life and who could dance all night long! We had so much fun together(with Corrine) at Jill and Max's wedding. I will cherish those memories of Keri. I'm so very thankful that I got to know her. She was truly special in every way. My prayers are with the Kohut family, Jill and Max, and all of Keri's wonderful friends who are grieving.

Keri was such a light on this earth...and her presence is already so missed. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends, especially Corrine whose deep love for her sister and Keri's for her is such a model relationship for us all.

Keri was a dear, cherished friend. She will be deeply missed. Her spirit will live on forever. She touched the lives of many and will always be in our hearts and memories.



We love and miss you!!!