RACHEL MICHELLE BJORKLUND Aug. 9, 1984–Feb. 19, 2014
Rachel Michelle Bjorklund died in a motor vehicle accident Feb. 19, 2014 in Bloomington, Indiana. Rachel was born Aug. 9, 1984 in Hershey, Penn., the second daughter of Mark and Heidi Bjorklund.
Her family moved to Carlisle, Pa., where she attended Bethel Nursery School and Grace Baptist Christian School until the 4th grade. Her family subsequently moved to Los Alamos, NM in 1994. Rachel graduated from Los Alamos High School in 2003. She received an academic letter, a music letter and athletic letters. She had been active in marching band, Encore choir, All-state Mixed Choir, and Cross Country and Track. S
She attended Northern Arizona University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BS in Psychology in 2007. She had a music scholarship at NAU and toured Australia and New Zealand with her choir. She went on to study physical therapy at NAU and received a Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2010. She moved to Dallas, Texas after graduation, and then to Bloomington, Ind.
Rachel was engaged to be married to Danny Kratzer, whom she had known since high school. Rachel and Danny were planning a May 19th wedding on the Grand Cayman Island in the Caribbean.
Rachel was a peacemaker, generous, loving, kind, sentimental, and frugal. She donated time while at NAU, to the Episcopal Church, serving on a board and raising money for charity. She was one who saved things because of their memories not necessarily their monetary value. She could find economical ways to get things done. She taught anatomy labs to help pay for graduate school. She worked at a health food store during undergraduate school. She practiced yoga and liked to cook healthy foods. She was hard working and practical. She was faithful to her friends. She loved to sing and her beautiful voice was part of the youth worship team at White Rock Baptist Church in high school. She had found love and truly wanted to raise a family with Danny. She will be missed greatly and loved always.
Rachel was preceded in death by her sister Erin Bjorklund, her grandparents Carl and Marilyn Bjorklund and Dale Holm and her cousin Jacob Holm. She is survived by her fiancé Danny Kratzer of Indiana, her parents Mark and Heidi Bjorklund, her brother David Bjorklund, and sister Renee Bjorklund (brother-in-law Morgan Johnson and nephews Peyton and Tristan Johnson) of NM. Her aunts and uncles Eric and Kathy Bjorklund, Lynn Bjorklund, Chris and Lesleigh Holm, Eric and Kalynne Holm, Cousin Bryan Holm and many other friends and family.
A memorial service will be held at White Rock Baptist Church at 2 p.m. March 15, 2014. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Los Alamos Public Schools, Rachel Bjorklund Memorial All-State Music fund. Send donations to LAPS, 2075 Trinity Dr., Los Alamos, NM, 87544.
