Brian J. Bork

BRIAN JON BORK was born to Orv and Barb (Bruxvoort) Bork on Sunday, April 25, 1965 at Luverne Community Hospital in Luverne, Minnesota. He was raised on a farm by Beaver Creek before moving to the Bruxvoort/Bork farm west of Luverne.

As a child Brian loved being outside. He spent his time working on the farm, riding the 4 wheeler and snowmobile, fishing, and camping with his family during Minnesota summers. In Junior High, he played football and qualified for the Jr. Olympics with a track relay team. He was a talented runner and reveled in playing basketball and soccer at Southwest Christian High School in Edgerton, Minnesota. It was there that he met Mary Lynn Schoolmeester, his future bride.

Prior to “twirp week,” an opportunity for girls to ask boys to be their date for an upcoming skating party, Mary decided to do some investigating to see if Brian would go with her. With the encouragement of some friends on the bus they rode, Mary worked up the courage to ask Brian the question that would start the beginning of their journey together. He said yes and they decided a pre-skating party date would be a good idea to get to know each other a little better. The rest is history.

After graduating high school, Brian attended Mankato Area Technical School in Mankato, Minnesota where he studied Design Drafting. During this time, he also enjoyed fishing the various little lakes around the area. He started interning while in school at Mico Inc. in Mankato, Minnesota as a CAD draftsman. He then accepted a full time position with the company. In July of 1985, Brian and Mary were united in marriage at Edgerton First CRC. While living by Mankato, their first child, Tyler Jon, was born.

In 1989, the couple moved to Omaha, Nebraska as Brian was offered a job at Vickers Inc., a company that specialized in manufacturing hydraulic pumps for mining and farming equipment. While there, he began as a design draftsman and worked his way into a management position. Brian and Mary welcomed their subsequent children, Amanda Joy and Ashley Marie, during their time in Nebraska. They were very involved members of Prairie Lane CRC where Brian served as a Deacon.

After eleven years of living in Omaha, the family transitioned to Sioux Falls, South Dakota where Brian accepted a position as IT Manager with Sencore Inc., where electronic testing equipment is manufactured. He formed many working friendships there and skillfully handled many projects over the years. Brian found joy being closer to family and watching his three children grow. He was committed to attending the many school activities his son and daughters participated in. From track, soccer, volleyball, basketball to cheerleading, one-act plays and musicals, Brian was a source of inspiration and encouragement to his children. While being an invested father, he was also a dedicated husband, thoughtful son, kind brother, and true friend. Brian was a skilled craftsman who enjoyed woodworking. In his free time, he could be found in his garage or at his in-laws farm working on projects. He even converted an old hog house into a first-class woodworking shop. As a new adventure, Brian had started farming with his father-in-law and he and his wife were planning on moving to their farm to pursue his dream. He loved being in the tractor and patiently showed Mary how to operate the chisel plow and combine.

Brian accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior and lived his faith through humble service, patience, generosity, and a selfless love. He walked faithfully with the Lord through seasons of blessing and days of trial. Diagnosed with stage-four lung cancer in October of 2014, Brian continued to lean on the all-surpassing peace of Christ and the knowledge that his Savior had achieved an eternal glory in which he too would share. He found strength through prayer and the support of family and friends. Brian cherished the time he had with his family and filled his last years creating new memories with them by going on family trips, savoring family traditions, and spending quality time together. On April 18, 2016, Brian died peacefully at his home at the age of 50 years, 11 months and 23 days.

Brian is survived by his wife, Mary; three children, Tyler, Amanda and her husband Aaron, and Ashley; grandmother, Tille Bork of Luverne Mary Jane Brown Home; parents, Orville and Barb of Luverne; three siblings, Doug and his wife Marci, Wendy and her husband Patrick, and Nick and his wife Annie; and other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Herman Bork; and his maternal grandparents, John and Martha Bruxvoort.