Bjork, Carl Herbert (1912-2003)

BJORK, ECKMAN, BAKKE, SHAW, PETERSON, DERMER, ZARUBA, RENNEKE, GEHLING, BAVLNKA, STRUSS, BULTEMA

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 11/4/2010 at 23:38:37

Carl Herbert Bjork
June 25, 1912 - May 3, 2003

Carl Herbert Bjork, age 90, of Albert City, passed away on Saturday, May 3, 2003, at the Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge.

Carl Herbert Bjork was born the son of Axel Fredrick and Emma Olivia (Eckman) Bjork on June 25, 1912, in Buena Vista County. He grew up on the family farm located between Albert City and Marathon. He attended school in Marathon and graduated from Marathon High School in 1930.

Carl spent the first few years after graduation working on area farms. He also worked at the Thieman Factory, Superior Manufacturing and for his uncle Oscar in his blacksmith shop. In 1935, Carl attended the Coil Electrical School in Chicago.

On September 5, 1940, Carl was united in marriage to Cora Bakke, This union was blessed with six children: Clarice, Charles, Carol, Carl (Roger), Corlys and Colleen.

Carl continued his love of farming throughout his life, working in partnership with his dad. During his farming years, he was also a substitute mail carrier for 20 years. In 1983, Carl and Cora built a home and moved into town. They lived in their home until Cora passed away in 1995. Carl later moved into an apartment while continuing his community service activities.

Carl worked hard to provide a good life for his family. In addition to farming and raising his children with Cora, Carl was active in his community in many ways. He served on the church board, sang in the church choir, taught Sunday School, was a Luther League sponsor and served on the ASCS county committee for Poland Township for 15 years. Carl also was active in the Thresherman's Association and the Historical Association, He served on the board for the Northwest Aging Association in Buena Vista County for eight years, on the Pleasant View Home Board for nine years, on the Young At Heart Board, and on the Centennial Board in addition to volunteering at the nursing home. In 1999, Carl was named the Centennial King for Albert City. He was a member of the Marathon Alumni Association and a lifetime member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Albert City where he was baptized on July 7, 1912, and confirmed in 1928.

In addition to his community service activities, Carl enjoyed spending time playing cards with his friends at the Senior Center. He loved to garden, and he and Cora were known for raising beautiful and bountiful vegetable gardens and orchards. Carl was a volunteer for every Red Cross bloodmobile drive and enjoyed quilting with his family. He was a taxi driver for many of his friends and thoroughly enjoyed visiting with people.

Although Carl loved his community, the love and devotion he had for his family was immeasurable. Family was everything to Carl, and he valued his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren immensely. Carl was known to go to as many of his grandchildren's ball games as he possibly could, one year attending all 30 games, both home and away, in the month of June.

Carl is survived by his six children and their families: his daughter, Clarice Shaw, of Lacey, Washington, and her three children and their families: Rachel and Greg Peterson (Ed, Tina, Sarah, David and Bob), Tim and Susan Shaw (Jared and Abbye), and Derek and Elizabeth Shaw (Tiffani, Miranda and Ryan); his son, Charles Bjork and his wife Carol, of Syracuse, Nebraska, and their three children and their families: Kyle and Traci Bjork (Lindsey and Emma), Kent and Kelly Bjork, and Keri and Neal Dermer (Rachel and Nicholas); his daughter, Carol Zaruba, of Vadnais, Minnesota, and her two children and their families: Jody and Scott Renneke (Hannah and Andrew), and Brian Zaruba; his son, Carl (Roger) Bjork and his wife Ethel, of Laurens, and their two children and their families: Chad and Julie Bjork (Mallory, Madelyn and Makayla) and Jason and Lindzy Bjork; his daughter, Corlys Gehling and her husband Jerry, of Omaha, Nebraska, and their three children and their families: Gretchen and Jason Bavlnka (Caleb, Jordan and Kyle), Jerry Gehling II, and Ted Gehling; and his daughter, Colleen Struss and her husband Dean, of Albert City, and their four children: Kirk Struss, Travis Struss, Erik Struss, Alex Struss; his two brothers: Ray Bjork of Albert City, and Morri (Linea) Bjork and his wife Marge, of Preston, Minnesota; his sister, Dorothy Bultema and her husband Johnnie, of Richvale, California; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and countless friends.

Preceding Carl in death were his parents, Axel and Emma; his wife, Cora; and his son-in-law, Jerry Shaw.

A funeral service was held on Wednesday, May 7, 2003, at 11 a.m. at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Albert City with Reverend David Bernhardt officiating. Interment was in the Fairfield Township Cemetery. The Sliefert - Asmus Funeral Home in Albert City was in charge of the arrangements.

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