West Liberty, Iowa Howard Arthur Bjork, age 88, died Sunday, August 30, 2015, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City after a short illness. Funeral services will begin at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, September 3, at First Church United in West Liberty with Marian Hart officiating. Burial will be at West Liberty Oak Ridge Cemetery, West Liberty. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.,Wednesday, September 2nd at the First Church United. The Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Liberty is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to West Liberty Fire and Ambulance or Muscatine County Fair. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.hendersonbarkerfuneralhome.com. Howard was born on February 1, 1927, in Des Moines County, Iowa, near Mediapolis, the son of Oscar and Myrtle (Duncan) Bjork. He was a graduate of Morning Sun High School and an army veteran serving with the 3160th Signal Service Battalion in Germany during 1945 and 1946. He was employed with electrical construction in the Chicago area and as a lineman with the then Iowa-Illinois Gas and Electric Co. in Iowa City. He married Celia Margaret Coon at the First Presbyterian Church in Morning Sun on September 24, 1949. They lived in Iowa City for several years where he worked as a Railroad Depot Agent/Clerk. They moved to West Liberty in 1960, and he was employed for 32 years by the Rock Island/Milwaukee/Soo Line Railroads at West Liberty, Columbus Junction, and Muscatine, retiring in 1986. He then worked as a dispatcher for Eastern Iowa Light and Power Company in Wilton and retired from there in 1991, followed by part-time employment at the West Liberty Simpson Care Center for several years. Howard was a long-time active member of West Liberty First Church United, having served on the Board of Directors as a Trustee, on the Board of Deacons, Liberty Crusaders, and other various committees and events. He was a volunteer for the local Public Library, Friends of the Library, and he and Celia delivered library books regularly to the three West Liberty retirement buildings for several years. He was a volunteer at the Simpson Care Center and the Senior Meal-Site. Howard and Celia enjoyed traveling after retirement and visiting their children and grandchildren. Both were avid sports fans and attended their families’ events and activities as frequently as possible. Survivors include, children: Ed Bjork and his wife, Barb, of Mount Vernon, Iowa; Tom Bjork of West Liberty; Jane Vimini and her husband, Robert, of Salisbury, Maryland; and David Bjork and his wife, Luann, of West Liberty, Iowa. Nine grandchildren also include: Kim Bjork, of Marion, Iowa; Nick Bjork, of Marion, Iowa; Kris Roggentien and her husband, Reece, of Tiffin, Iowa; Curt Bjork and his wife, Laura, of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa; Andrew Vimini and his wife, Chrissy, of Wahiawa, Hawaii; Megan Vimini of Jersey City, New Jersey; Molly Vimini of Washington D.C.; Eric Bjork of Liberty, Missouri; and Allison Bjork of What Cheer, Iowa. Two great-grandchildren also include: Aria Roggentien and Eleanor Bjork. Other survivors are a niece Karen Cote and her husband, Tom, and their son, Peter as well as special friend Bev Lindle. Howard was preceded in death by his wife, Celia, in 2008; his brother and sister in-law, Harlan and Janice Bjork; and his parents.