Ordell Howard Bjerke --- 1921-2011

BUSNESS, BJERKE, GROTEGUT, LOEB, BENEKE

Posted By: Ia GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 11/21/2011 at 18:37:07

Ordell Bjerke

Ordell H. Bjerke, 90, of Waukon died Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Saturday, September 17 at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon, with Pastor Samantha Houser officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon, with his grandchildren serving as casketbearers.
Ordell Howard Bjerke was born June 21, 1921 on the rural Waterville farm of his parents, Eilert and Martha (Busness) Bjerke. He was baptized and confirmed at the East Paint Creek Synod Lutheran Church and graduated from Waterville High School in 1939. Following graduation, Ordell did farm work for Karl Simmons near Waukon.
June 21, 1946 he married Virginia Grotegut at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon. Ordell and Virginia rented several area farms before buying the Frankville Township farm in Winneshiek County where they raised a dairy herd, beef cattle, hogs, sheep, chickens and crops. After moving to Waukon in 1974, Ordell worked for several years at the Coast to Coast store.
Ordell was an active member of Zion United Church of Christ, serving numerous terms on the council. He was also a member of Farm Bureau and for a number of years served as Waukon’s Zoning Administrator.
Ordell cherished time with his family and even after a busy day in the fields could find time for a game of catch or other activity with his kids. When he wasn’t farming, Ordell enjoyed fishing and pheasant hunting, bowling, playing cards, going dancing, and putting puzzles together. He was an accomplished woodworker and made many functional items as gifts for his family and friends. Ordell was an avid gardener, raising red roses and other flowers. He also enjoyed traveling, whether on a bus tour with Virginia or simply taking a family Sunday afternoon drive through the local countryside.
Survivors include his wife, Virginia of Waukon; his four children, Karen (Randy) Loeb and Lois (Loren) Beneke, both of Waukon, Lynn of West Union, and Robert (Cheryl) of Decorah; nine grandchildren, Kayla, Shawn, Brianne, Rachel, Adam and Mikael Bjerke, Amanda Guese, Amy Evans, and Jacob Beneke; five great-grandchildren, Ryan and Mitch Guese and Alex, Zayna and Zoey Evans; and a sister-in-law, Lorna Bjerke of Waukon. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Ernest.

The Waukon Standard, September 21, 2011

Allamakee Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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