Bjorn Iwarsson

Bjorn "BJ" Iwarsson peacefully passed into the presence of his Lord and Savior on January 30, 2025 with his wife by his side. He was born in Stockholm, Sweden, on May 27, 1939, to Nils and Vibecke Iwarsson. He was an adventuresome child and hitchhiked around England and Europe during the summers as a teenager. He played some organized basketball and at 6 ft. 8 in. he caught the eye of two US coaches who were in Sweden and was encouraged to come to the US to improve his basketball skills and attend a small college, a good fit for a foreign student. In 1959, Bjorn left Sweden and after arriving by ship in New York, he saved his limited funds of $300 by hitchhiking over a two-month period to Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. He was to stay only a year but decided to finish his education there and graduated in 1962 with a major in International Affairs. In 1967 he became a US citizen. The name Bjorn was a challenge to pronounce for people he met and early on he simply became "BJ".
In December,1969, Bjorn met his future wife, Barbara Hoglund, in the men's sock department at the old Dayton's department store in Southdale Mall while both were Christmas shopping. They soon realized they belonged to the same ski club and thus met up again. In August of 1970 they were married and would have over 54 years together.
Bjorn had a long career in various corporate management positions in the U.S. and Europe and then in the mid-1990s he acquired his own company, a metal fabrication business. He loved being his own boss.
A highlight of his life came in 1997 when he and Barb traveled to Orcas Island in Puget Sound for a vacation and both were smitten. They returned that year and bought property and built their dream home. During their time there, they had the thrill of taking their own boat to Alaska and back. Life and health issues eventually brought them back to MN to be closer to family.
He was a very creative man always on to the next project. Wood turning became a fulfilling hobby and many family and friends have his beautiful bowls and votive candle holders. He loved opera and oysters. Memories of him with his grandchildren on his tractor are a great joy.
Bjorn is predeceased by his parents; sister-in-law, Nancy Hoglund, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Robert and Marlys Wood, sister-in-law, Bodil Iwarsson and nephew, Magnus Iwarsson. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; daughters Henni (Rich), Katri (Aaron); grandchildren, Eliah, Ava, Nikolai; brothers Sten Iwarsson, Arne Iwarsson and nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Berean Baptist Church, 309 County Rd 42, Burnsville, MN at 11 am on Friday, February 28 with visitation one hour before. A luncheon will follow the service at the church.
Bjorn will be laid to rest at Better Place Forests, Scandia, MN in the spring.
The family would like to thank Apple Valley Village Health Care Center and Lifespark Hospice for their care and support. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Samaritan's Purse.
"And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life and this life is in his Son". I John 5:11