Obituary of Richard M. Bjork

Richard M. Bjork, 87, of 1669 Big Tree Rd. Lakewood, NY passed away at 1:00 a.m. Friday (July 13, 2012) in the Heritage Park Rehab and Skilled Nursing Facility. A lifelong area resident he was born February 26, 1925 in Jamestown, NY a son of the late David M. and Hulda Peterson Bjork. He attended Jamestown Public Schools and enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, from 1942 to 1946 as a plank holder aboard the USS Cowpens when it was commissioned on May 28, 1943. He was one of the first sailors to set foot on the Japanese mainland following the surrender and was responsible for transporting war veterans home from the pacific during the late 1945's and early 1946. For his heroic efforts and wounds received in battle, he received the Purple Heart award. Before his retirement he was employed by the Hickey-Mitchell Insurance Company where he worked for 19 years, training salesman for the insurance industry. In earlier years he was the assistant circulation manager for the Post Journal from 1950-1961 and was instrumental in the formation of the Warren Observer where he was responsible for the growth of the sales department and the circulation department from 1961-1968. He was a longtime member of the First Covenant Church where he served as an usher for many years and was also a member of the trustee board. He was confirmed and baptized at the First Lutheran Church. He was a former member of the National Casualty Company Board of Directors, the Lakewood Rod & Gun Club, the Jamestown Elks Lodge, the John W. Tiffany Post 53 Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Koinonia Community. He and his wife volunteered for the St. Susan's Center for 25 years. Richard will be remembered as a devoted family man and for his strong work ethic. He loved working around his home, gardening and riding his gravely tractor. He also loved to cook and was well known for his furniture repair and refinishing, especially his talent for caning chairs. He was also known for his love of animals,especially dogs. Surviving are his wife of 66 years, the former Phyllis Larson whom he married June 14, 1946 in the Swedish Mission Covenant Church, three sons Marcus R. Bjork of Jamestown, Randall V. (Kimberly) Bjork of Lockport, NY, Daniel R. (Cynthia) Bjork of Twinsburg, OH, a step-granddaughter Kimberly (Mark) Ortega of Twinsburg, OH, two grandchildren Pastor Aaron D. (Andrea) Bjork of Jamestown, Lindsay (Michael) Coulombe of Cheektowaga, NY and six great grandchildren Gabriella, Sarah and Julianna Ortega, Margaret, Damien and Garrett Coulombe. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by a brother Robert C. Bjork, two sisters Margaret Carlson, Anna Harkins and a step-grandson Jeffrey Larson. The funeral will be held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday in the First Covenant Church. Pastor Aaron Bjork, pastor of the New Beginnings Fellowship United Methodist Church will officiate assisted by Rev. Adam Rohler, pastor of First Covenant Church. Burial will be in the Sunset Hill Cemetery. Friends will be received from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. Monday in the Lind Funeral Home where the Koinonia Community will sing at 8:00 p.m. Monday. Memorials may be made to the New Beginnings Fellowship United Methodist Church, 1427 Warren & Jamestown Blvd. Jamestown, NY 14701 or to Camp Mission Meadows, P.O. Box 42, Dewittville, NY 14728.