John Paul BJORKMAN

1953 - 2024

It should come as no surprise that among the last outgoing texts on his phone was a groaner of a joke, though it just as easily could have been a group blast arranging a get-together of friends. Laughter and community were at the heart of John Bjorkman, and there will be considerably less of both after his death on November 3, 2024, while hiking Deep Creek Canyon in Riverside State Park.

A career accountant, lover of golf and biking and the Zags, convert to the club of cat dads, deft griller and connoisseur of a cold beer and a shot in proper company, he was 71.

He was born on July 31, 1953, in Butte, Montana, to Paul and Jean Bjorkman, and remained a Butte guy through and through. He and his brother Terry grew up close, bonding especially over their shared love of cars (Chevy Nomads and BMWs in particular), and John graduated from Butte Public High School and headed off to college at the University of Montana with a tight knot of hometown friends. On Valentine's Day, 1978, he had his first date with Laura Martin, picking her up in "the newest car I've ever owned" - a 1958 Chevy pickup.

John took his degree in accounting in 1979 and earned his Certified Public Accountant designation two years later after following Laura to Spokane, where they were married in 1982, becoming not just a part of the Martin family, but the center of it. Son, Tyler, born in 1985, and daughter, Carrie, born in 1987, completed their family.

Landing his first job out of college with Scott Boyd and Associates, John remained with the firm through the course of many mergers, sales and rebrandings, becoming a partner with LeMaster Daniels in 2002 and retiring from CliftonLarsonAllen in 2018. He had loyal clients that went back nearly four decades, including Lawton Printing and Arden Tree Farms, of which he eventually became president.

He also mentored younger accountants, in and out of the office. Bikes and beers after work once a week in the summer was his brainchild.

Service, too, went beyond the office. He was a member of the Women and Children's Free Restaurant board of directors, and past president and board member of Hospice of Spokane. He also served as president of the Northwest Tax Institute and the Spokane Estate Planning Council.

Always, the things he enjoyed most were done with friends -- Gonzaga games, travel through Europe, fishing trips to Alaska, camping and snowshoeing, Super Bowl parties and even just bringing "interesting old guys" together for breakfast. Everywhere, butchered punchlines were left in his wake, often funnier than the scripted ones.

John is survived by his wife of 42 years, Laura; his children, Tyler and wife, Phoebe, of Taiwan, and Carrie and husband, Jacob Billman, of Missoula; a brother, Terry (Noi) of Spanaway; nephew, Tom; and nieces, Melissa and Wendy; along with several grandnieces and grandnephews. He is also survived by brothers-in-law, Karl Martin of Rapid City, South Dakota, and David Martin (Jan) of Pierre; sister-in-law; Jean Garrity of Manitou Springs, Colorado; and niece; Sarah Garrity (Scott Downes) of Denver.

There will be a memorial service Saturday, November 16, at 2 p.m., at Mukogawa Commons, 4000 Randolph Road. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Hospice of Spokane.