Rachel M. Bjorklund

Rachel Michelle Bjorklund died in a motor vehicle accident on 2/19/14 in Bloomington, Indiana. Rachel was born 8/9/84 in Hershey, Pennsylvania, 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. 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, Indiana. 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 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 was faithful to her friends. She loved to sing and her beautiful voice was part of friend’s weddings and worship. 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 Bloomington, Indiana (grandson of Maryrose and Fred Wampler), 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 New Mexico.

A memorial service will be held at White Rock Baptist Church, 80 State Rd. 4, Los Alamos, NM 87544 on 3/15/14 at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, donation 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.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.DayFuneralServices.com Arrangements under the direction of Day Funeral Home, Bloomington, IN.