Lt Wayne Bjork, USMC - Obituary

olonel Bjork, age 81, succumbed to cancer on Thursday, March 24, 2011 at his residence in Upper Marlboro, MD. A native of Rockford, Illinois and a graduate of San Diego State University, and subsequently a Masters degree graduate from Chapman University in Orange, California, began his 31-year Marine Corps career as an enlistee in 1946. He served in enlisted ranks for 7-1/2 years before earning a commission as 2nd Lieutenant following the Korean War. As a Marine rifleman, then Corporal Bjork fought through the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea during the Chinese intervention in November-December 1950. In 1965 and later in 1970-71, Colonel Bjork served with the Third Marine Amphibious Force in Vietnam during the war there. Prior to retirement in 1979, Colonel Bjork served as the Inspector-Instructor for all Marine reservists in the Washington Metropolitan Area at the Washington Navy Yard. He completed his career as the Deputy Director for Support Services at the Marine Corps Historical Center. Following his retirement, Colonel Bjork was employed for ten years at Providence Hospital in Northeast Washington as the Director of Materials Management. Subsequently, he accepted the position of Director of Procurement at the University of Maryland .University College where he served for eleven years until his final retirement in 2000. The beloved husband of Mary Kay Bjork; father of David W. and Dennis P. Bjork; brother of Marvin E. Bjork, Phyllis A. Lind and Carole L. Cacciapaglia. Relatives and friends are invited to Lt Col. Bjork's Life Celebration at the GEORGE P. KALAS FUNERAL HOME, P.A., 6160 Oxon Hill Rd., Oxon Hill, MD on Monday, May 9, 2011 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 11:30 am at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church, 5416 Henderson Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746 . Interment Arlington National Cemetery immediately following at 2pm. Please sign the online guestbook.