MARILYN “PUG” J. BJORK, 88, of Cherokee, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, October 27, 2024 at Careage Hills Nursing Home in Cherokee, surrounded by her family.
Memorial services will be held on Friday, November 1, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, Iowa. Pastor Larry Ostercamp will officiate. Burial will be held at the Remsen Cemetery at a later date. Visitation with the family present will be held on Thursday, October 31, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, Iowa. Online condolences may be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com.
Pug was born on November 2, 1935 to Ralph and Audrey (Morrow) Lickiss at Quimby, Iowa. She attended Cherokee Schools.
In 1953, she met Robert “Bob” Bjork at the skating rink and Cherokee and they were married on December 27, 1953. They lived between Remsen, LeMars, Cherokee, and finally settled in Larrabee, Iowa. They welcomed 5 children together; Dawn, Russell, Terri, Pamela, and Denise. Bob and Pug moved back to Cherokee in 1999.
Pug worked as a certified nursing assistant at the Cherokee Villa for 28 years. She also worked for her parents at A & R Tap and Grill in Larrabee, Iowa and Woolworth’s and the Best Western in Cherokee.
During their retirement years, she enjoyed camping, crocheting, going to the casino and Las Vegas, playing bingo, and most of all spending time with her kids, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Bob on November 11, 2023, parents Ralph and Audrey Lickiss, and four siblings, Luella Reid, David Lickiss, Eddie Lickiss, and Jim Lickiss.
Pug will lovingly be remembered by her children, Dawn Bjork of Larrabee, Iowa, Russell (Sheri) Bjork of Center Point, Iowa, Terri (Todd) Webb of Cherokee, Iowa, Pamela Bjork of Larrabee, Iowa, and Denise (Tracy) Kraft of Cherokee, Iowa; 18 grandchildren; 40 great grandchildren; 26 great-great grandchildren; uncle Olay Morrow of Storm Lake, Iowa; several nieces and nephews.