WILMINGTON — Fred Bjorkland, 72, died Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at Lower Cape Fear Hospice Care Center after a lengthy battle with cancer.
He was born May 15, 1947, in Hartford, Connecticut, and grew up in East Windsor, Connecticut. After high school, he and his brothers ran service stations prior to beginning work at Mercury Oil in 1974, to Shepard Steel in 1995, and retiring in 2013 to Wilmington to be with his kids and grandkids.
Fred was a lover of motorcycles, classic cars, camping, photography, and good beer. After relocating, Fred found new passion as a WatchDOG at Noble Middle School, where he was a strong male role model to many children.
Fred was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas C. Bjorkland and Emma Daviduke Zaine; and stepfather, Anthony Zaine. He is also survived by his stepmother, Irene Bjorkland Ricciuti.
He leaves behind his adoring daughter and son, Elizabeth and Perry Steed; grandchildren, Ella, Madeline and Gabriel. He is survived by his previous wife, Suzanne Bjorkland Beattie; siblings Thomas Bjorkland, Joan and Dave Dahlstrom, Donald and Marian Bjorkland, Dale and Ralph Gamo, Harry and Maureen Bjorkland, Mark and Mabel Bjorkland and Daniel Bjorkland; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Fred was a friend to all who knew him.
Please contact the family for memorials in North Carolina and Connecticut.
Donations in his memory may be made to Lower Cape Fear Hospice, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401.
