Bjerke, Kenneth L. -- 1921 - 2001

MELDAHL, BJERKE, BUCHER, MACCALLUM, PEDERSON, TOLLEFSON, SKJOITEN

Posted By: IAGenWeb Volunteer
Date: 7/30/2010 at 08:27:23

Decorah Journal, Thursday, March 8, 2001

Kenneth Bjerke

Kenneth Bjerke, 79, of Decorah, died Sunday, March 4, 2001 at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in LaCrosse, Wisc.

There is no visitation, as the body was cremated.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, March 10 at 11 a.m. at Decorah Lutheran Church, with Revs. James Glesne, Bryan Robertson and Ole Winter officiating.

Organist will be Kathy Murray, and trumpet soloist David Lenninger will perform "On Eagle's Wings".

Congregational hymns include "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" and "My Faith Looks Up To Thee".

Full military rites will be provided by Helof-Holm V.F.W. Post No. 1977, Bernatz-Symonds & American Legion Post No. 163 and D.A.V. Hamre-Gieseri Chapter No. 8.

Inurnment will be at Phelps Cemetery, with Fjelstul Funeral Home of Decorah handling arrangements.

Kenneth L. Bjerke was born Dec. 8, 1921 on a farm near Hatton, N. D. to Melvin and Mina (Meldahl) Bjerke.

He graduated from Hatton High school in 1940 and from Luther College in 1948.

Kenneth Bjerke served in the U.S. Marine Corps from Sept. 4. 1942 to Dec. 13, 1945, stationed in San Diego, Calif., Hawaii and Iwo Jima.

He married Phyllis "Psyche" Bucher Nov. 28, 1946 in Hatton.

A member of Decorah Lutheran Church, he served as an usher and on the benevolence committee.

He was also a member of the Sons of Norway, V.F.W., Decorah Chamber of Commerce, serving on its Board of Directors for 10 years and as an ambassador.

In addition, he was a guide at Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum, and a member of S.C.O.R.E., Elks, and Oneota Golf and Country Club.

He helped with the Scandinavian Institute at Luther College for 15 years by hosting a picnic at his home.

Kenneth Bjerke was in the radio business in Decorah for many years. He was the voice of Decorah Vikings and the Luther Norsemen for almost 40 years as the sports broadcaster for KDEC radio.

He began radio work at Luther's KWLC as a student, serving as an engineer for the station in 1941, before entering the Armed Forces.

After returning to Luther, he resumed work at KWLC.

He started his broadcasting career in 1947 at KDEC, where he became part-own, for over 30 years.

Vern Koenig and Ken Bjerke, who had bought the KDEC radio station from the Dubuque Telegraph Herald in 1952, sold it to Paul and Sally Scott on July 29, 1985.

Kenneth Bjerke was honored by the Decorah Chamber, of Commerce Monday; Dec. 7, 1970 at its regular luncheon in Hotel Winneshiek in observance of his 25 years as a radio and sports broadcaster in Decorah.

There were 150 friends, and well-wishers in attendance, and he was presented a silver anniversary cake. Speakers for the event included his wife and two children.

Also in attendance were 25 friends, relatives and former classmates from Luther College.

Six close friends, unable to attend the celebration, were in conference calls "broadcast" to the whole audience. A highlight in the proceedings was a call from Kenneth Bjerke's mother, Mrs. Melvin Bjerke, from his hometown of Hatton.

Kenneth Bjerke helped start the Decorah Quarterback Club, and received the Iowa Football Coaches Association Service Award in 1978.

In 1985, he received the Ag Business Award from the Winneshiek County Cattlemen.

On Nov. 5, 1985, he was honored in appreciation of 38 years of dedicated sports broadcasting of Decorah Vikings and Luther Norse Athletics from the Decorah Quarterback Club.

On Oct. 7, 1988, Kenneth Bjerke received the Distinguished Service Award from Luther College.

He served on the Winneshiek County Civil War Monument Restoration Steering Committee, and worked with the Valdres Exchange students at Decorah High School, helping students find homes during their stay in Decorah.

Survivors include his wife, Phyllis "Psyche" Bjerke; two children, Gretchen MacCallum of Omaha, Neb., and Kevin and Juli Bjerke of Chesterfield, Mo.; and four grandchildren.

Additional survivors include one brother, Ronald and Sue Bjerke of Westby, Wisc., and three sisters: Jean and Monroe Pederson of Lancaster, Calif.; Mardelle Tollefson of Hatton and Dorothy and Glen Skjoiten of Hatton.

Kenneth L. Bjerke was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Orvis and James, and a son-in-law, David MacCallum.

Transcribed by an IA GenWeb Volunteer from obituaries found in the Howard-Winneshiek Genealogy Society Library, Cresco, Iowa.