Bernard Isadore Bjorklund

Bernard Bjorklund was born on February 1, 1927 in Chisago County Minnesota to Ted and Dora Bjorklund. Bun, the third of four sons was preceded in death by both his parents and all of his brothers. June 23, 1945 he was inducted into the Army of the United States, squadron A-9 3505th AAF Base Unit, Scott Field, Indiana as a private. March 23, 1946 he was deployed to Tokyo, Japan where he served as a supply clerk with the 13th Depot Squadron. While serving in Japan, he was awarded the Victory Medal Army of Occupation. Bun was honorably discharged from the Army of the United States on December 13, 1946. Upon returning to the Pine City area, he met Zeldora Trippler. Following a short courtship they married on October 15, 1948. To this union three daughters were born. Shortly after their marriage, Bun moved his bride to the Trippler farm on the east side of Cross Lake. On this farm he worked diligently raising the cattle and growing a variety of crops. While farming was his life long passion, Bun also worked his entire life driving truck for a variety of employers. He was an active member of the Teamsters Local 221 while working for P.O. Pederson in North Branch, Minnesota and Shafer Construction in Shafer, Minnesota. He retired from driving in 1992. When Bun wasn’t farming or driving he was a Pine County Deputy working Saturday evenings at the Pine Camp Ballroom. He spent 25 years at Pine Camp first working for Ray and Phil Salonek and later for Allen and Betty Walberg. Of all his jobs, his love of “Old Time Music” made Pine Camp his favorite. He loved his polkas and waltz’s and was known to be an excellent dance partner. Bun enjoyed his fishing. Summers he got out his boat and visited the local lakes in search of fresh fish. Winter saw him getting out his portable fish house and heading to Mille Lacs Lake in search of his favorite walleye. As his grandchildren appeared, they all became grandpa’s fishing partners. If you were a Bjorklund grandchild you had to know how to bait your hook and scoop the ice from your fishing hole. Whether you called him “Bernard, Bernie or Bun” you knew him as an extremely strong dedicated man who valiantly fought prostate cancer, skin cancer and triple bi pass surgery. None of these physical challenges prevented him from sharing a joke with or teasing those he came in contact with. Bun left us, unexpectedly on February 23, 2012. He is survived by his wife Zeldora of 64 years, his daughters Deborah Wigmore of Florida, Denise and her husband Ervin Eckmann of Coon Rapids, Dena and her husband Larry Krautbauer of Hinckley, grandchildren: Colette Jefferson, Kyle Christensen, Justin Bye, Derek Wigmore, Ryan Wigmore, Haley Krautbauer, Brooke Krautbauer and Rachel Krautbauer; and two great grand children: Robert Christensen and Raven Christensen; and a special cousin Alice Wiener of Pine City. Funeral services were Tuesday, February 28th at 11:00 a.m. at Swanson Funeral Chapel in Pine City with Reverend Vicki Vander Vegt officiating. Interment was in Birchwood Cemetery of Pine City. Visitation was on Monday evening from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. and also 1 hour before the service on Tuesday at the Swanson Chapel. Arrangements were with the Swanson Funeral Chapel and Cremation service of Pine City.