Luverne Bjerke, 1927-2015

Published 9:53 am Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Luverne “Vern” Bjerke, 87, of Mankato died Friday, Feb. 6, 2015, at Hillcrest Health Care Center. 

Luverne Bjerke

A funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Mankato with the Rev. Patrick Patterson officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Glenwood Cemetery. Mankato Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Luverne was born May 25, 1927, in Albert Lea to Henry and Lillian (Toft) Bjerke. He graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1945.Vern served in the United States Navy in World War II and Korea. He graduated from Mankato State Teacher’s College with a degree in education and also received his master’s degree.

Vern was united in marriage to Dorothy Schulze Aug. 18, 1952. Vern was a teacher at Mankato High School where he taught industrial arts, drafting and photography. He became the audio visual director for the Mankato Public Schools and retired in 1992. Vern enjoyed working in his wood shop, photography and golfing. The Bjerke family members were active charter members of Christ the King Lutheran Church since 1962.

Vern is survived by his wife, Dorothy, of Mankato; son, Al Bjerke, of Mankato; daughter, Julie Bjerke, of North Mankato; brother-in–law, Pehr Pehrsson; nephew and nieces Pehr, Pamela and Kirsten; and many cousins, aunts and uncles.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister-in-law, Geraldine (Sclulze) Pehrsson.

The family wishes to extend its best regards and respect to the staff at Hillcrest Health Care Center for their loving care.