Rodney A. Bjerke

Rodney A. Bjerke was born January 4, 1936, in Brookings, South Dakota to Albert and Grace Bjerke. He grew up fishing and hunting with his father, brother and uncles, and achieved Eagle Scout rank. Rod worked in his father's hardware store in his teens, where his entrepreneurial ambition developed and then enlisted in the Army during the Korean War. He returned from service to complete a BS in Business Administration at the University of North Dakota. After college, he started working for Weyehaeuser Company in their Packaging group. He rose to the position of Division Controller, overseeing the accounting function of 30 corrugated container manufacturing plants. After 11 years, he left the company to start a corrugated box company in Bedford Park, IL. During this time, he met his wife, Beverly. They married in 1974 and established their home in Downers Grove, Illinois. Changes in the packaging industry affected profitability, so he and his partners decided to liquidate. Rod moved on to a position as VP of Finance & Administration with the Society of Real Estate Appraisers in Chicago for about 15 years before going back into business ownership, this time buying a NAPA Auto Parts store in Morris, Illinois. He ran this business for 15 years before retiring at the age of 75.
Throughout his life, Rod was involved in many organizations professionally and personally. His love of the outdoors led him to be a member and officer of Salmon Unlimited, his local snowmobile club, and Scoutmaster for his son's Boy Scout Troop. He hobby farmed for many years on weekends in Michigan, growing corn and soybeans and selling fresh vegetables at the market. Later he added a grape farm, and his harvest was under contract with Welch’s. He spent many summers with his family camping, swimming, fishing and boating on Lake Michigan. During the winter months, they enjoyed hunting and snowmobiling. Rod was a devoted father and family man, who instilled his dependable work ethic in his children. He was known for his calm demeanor, was slow to anger and always maintained a gentile and wry sense of humor. He consistently faced life’s challenges with subdued confidence and maintained a positive attitude through all his days.
He is survived by his wife Beverly, Rockford, IL; daughter Lisa (Mark) Jarmoszka, Palos Heights, IL; son Rodney II (Jodi) Bjerke, Rockford, IL; brother Paul Bjerke, Missoula, MT; five grandchildren, and many other dear friends and family members.
A memorial service will be held Friday, May 10, at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 675 N. Mulford, Rockford, IL 61107. Visitation with family will begin at 9:30am until church service begins at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of your choice. Arrangements by Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Mulford Chapel. Send online condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com