Maynard Bjork

Maynard Alvin Bjork died on August 29, 2013 at the great age of 94! He was born on May 29, 1919 to Albert and Minda Bjork at home on the farm near Montpelier, ND. He attended both rural elementary and high school near home and then worked on the farm until 1946. He enlisted in the Army for 3 years, stationed at Los Alamos, NM, Enewetak, South Pacific, and Albuquerque, NM. Upon discharge, he attended the State School of Science in Wahpeton, ND where he learned the auto body repair trade. He married Edna Nagel on September 4, 1950 and was the father of 4 daughters. After working in auto body repair shops in Bismarck, ND and Anaconda, MT they moved to Menomonie, WI where he earned a BS in Industrial Education and an MS in Vocational Education at Stout State University in 1959. Maynard was hired by the Des Moines School Board to start and equip the Des Moines Technical High School Auto Body Repair and Refinishing Core area. He taught this trade for 25 years, retiring in 1984. He taught all 4 daughters to change a tire and check the oil level in their car. He was a charter member and first President of New Life Lutheran Church. He was a member of the American Legion Post #0620 in West Des Moines. Gardening was his hobby as well as traveling with his family. He loved to tinker and was able to fix most anything!

He is survived by his daughters, Linda (Paul) Rye of Urbandale, IA, Judy (Bruce) Barnes of Cedar Rapids, IA, Sandy (Charlie) Scavo of West Des Moines, IA, Betty (Terry) Kochaver of Minneapolis, MN; grandchildren, Marcia (Jeremy) Ziemer of North Liberty, IA, Andy (Amanda) Rye of Ankeny, IA, Brian Rye of Urbandale, IA, Sara (Bob) Meisterling of Cedar Rapids, IA, Brett Barnes (Heather Quick) of Cedar Rapids, IA, Kelsey and Nicole Scavo of West Des Moines, IA; great grandchildren Kimberlee, Kaelynn and Dyllan Rye of Ankeny, IA, with one on the way; sister Myra (Bob) Nagel of Montpelier, ND; sisters-in-law, Helen Bjork of Delavan, WI, Helen Nagel of Fargo, ND; and many nieces and nephews. Maynard was preceded in death by his parents; wife Edna; siblings Alton (Adeline) Bjork, Clarence Bjork, Jeanette (Carroll) Bogue and Lyla (Virgil) Swanson.

A special thank you to the staff at Walnut Ridge Assisted Living and Memory Care in Clive, Dr. John Zittergruen and staff, the staff at Methodist West (ER and 4th floor) and Mercy Hospice in Johnston for the wonderful care given to our father.

Memorial services will be held at New Life Lutheran Church in Norwalk on Sunday, September 1, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. Visitation will precede the service beginning at 1:00 p.m. Burial will be in the Norwalk Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Maynard’s memory to New Life Lutheran Church. Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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