Howard "Howie" Bjorklund

1927 - 2021

Bjorklund, Howard Gene "Howie"

MADISON - Howard Gene "Howie" Bjorklund, age 94, passed away Oct. 22, 2021. He was born Oct. 2, 1927, in Chicago, the son of Alice (Nelson) and Casper Bjorklund. The family soon moved to a farm in Orfordville, Wis., then to Beloit, Wis.

Howard and Martha L. "Marti" Brill met in Beloit High School, Class of 1945, and married Nov. 25, 1948. They were blessed with 70 years of marriage until Martha's passing in 2019.

Howard graduated from Bradley University School of Horology, after which he worked for his father-in-law, Henry Brill Jewelers. Several years later Howard followed his desire to be in law enforcement, and in 1953 he joined the Beloit Police Department, walking a beat and driving a Harley-Davidson patrol cycle. In 1961 Howard graduated in the National FBI Academy 67th Class, Washington, D.C., having been personally appointed by J. Edgar Hoover and certified by U.S. Attorney General Robert "Bobby" Kennedy. In Beloit Howard served as Chief of Police 1963-1969. He then accepted an appointment to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, where he served as Assistant Director of the Wisconsin Council on Criminal Justice, and thereafter Director of the Wisconsin Crime Information Bureau. He and Martha moved to Madison, Wis., in 1971. Later Howard was appointed by Wisconsin's Attorney General as Administrator, Division of Law Enforcement Services, Wisconsin Department of Justice.

Howard retired in 1988, after which he and Martha enjoyed years of travel (often with relatives), visiting and learning about every state in the U.S. They also enjoyed international travel, especially cruising the fjords of Norway.

Until recent years Howard continued to serve on numerous law enforcement boards, councils and committees for the National F.B.I. and State of Wisconsin. He was a lifetime member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association for which he served 30 years as Parliamentarian.

Howie had a keen interest in Native American art, historical sights and monuments, nature and photography. He enjoyed golfing and, along with Marti, bowling. They spent many years camping, especially having fun vacations with "the Beloit group," couples and friends going back to their high school days.

Beyond measure, Howard and Martha enjoyed and cherished time, activities and events with their children, grandchildren and great-grandsons. Their love and devotion was shared through family generations and will carry on.

Howard is survived by children, Jon (Carole) Bjorklund, Sugar Hill, Ga., Sonja Rabe, Barry (Joy) Bjorklund and Chris (Aimee) Bjorklund, all in Madison, Wis.; grandchildren, Julia Szokody and John (Courtney) Szokody, Atlanta, Stacey Bjorklund, Phoenix, Lars (Lily) Bjorklund, Denver, Dane (Grace Weber) Bjorklund, Los Angeles, and Sol Bjorklund, Madison; great-grandsons, Logan Vega, Phoenix, Avery Szokody and Miles Szokody, Atlanta, and Odin Bjorklund, Denver; sisters-in-law, Evelyn Bjorklund, Merrill, Wis.; and Shirley Bjorklund, Wexford, Pa.

Joining his wife, Martha, Howard was pre-deceased by his parent, Alice M. (Nelson) and Casper A. Bjorklund; mother- and father-in-law, Laura A. (Perkins) and Henry M. Brill; brothers, Richard "Dick" Bjorklund and Ronald Bjorklund; brothers-in-law, Richard Brill (and wife, Irene) and Eugene Brill (and wife, Dorothy); son-in-law, Jon Rabe; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Inurnment will be at Luther Valley Cemetery in Beloit, Wis. A gathering to honor Howard and Martha will take place in 2022. Details will be shared ahead of time.

Remembrance donations may be made to our U.S. National Park Service, www.nps.gov/getinvolved/donate.htm.

"Swing the club, don't hit the ball"

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