David O. Biorn

   David Olaf Biorn, 75, of Sioux City, died Saturday, June 3, 2017, at Holy Spirit Retirement Home, after a 2-1/2–year battle with brain cancer (glioblastoma). Services will be Monday, June 12, at 11:00 AM at First Lutheran Church in Sioux City, with Rev. Len Halvorson and Rev. Dennis Everson presiding. A lunch will follow the service. Visitation with the family will be 3-6 PM Sunday, June 11, at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel, with a prayer service at 5:00. Condolences may be offered online at www.meyerbroschapels.com.
   
   David was born on March 14, 1942, to Rev. Boral and Gladys (Querna) Biorn in Chicago, IL. He spent his childhood in Watertown, SD, and Northfield, MN. He graduated from Saint Olaf College, Northfield, MN, in 1964. He taught English and coached basketball in St. James, MN, and Winnebago, IL. He received a Masters in Hospital Administration from the University of Minnesota in 1972. David held the position of President & CEO at Palisades General Hospital in North Bergen, NJ, Cottage Health Care System in Galesburg, IL, and then St. Luke’s Health System, where he served from 1987 to 1996. Before retiring in 2011, David was a Financial Consultant for Salomon Smith Barney, Thrivent Financial, and Sterk Financial.

   David married Sarah Pederson in Jamestown, ND, on June 25, 1966, and they had 3 children: Alyssa, Matthew, and Rebecca.

   David was active in numerous professional and community organizations, including the boards of the Sioux City Symphony, the Sioux City Chamber of Commerce, the Tri-State Graduate Center, the Association of Iowa Hospitals and Health Systems, and VHA-Midlands. He was also a Fellow in the American College of Health Care Executives.

   David enjoyed golfing, boating, reading, and music. His favorite place was the family cabin on Round Lake in northern Minnesota, where he loved the outdoors, spending time with his extended family, sharing his guitar playing and beautiful voice, giving boat rides, and pulling water-skiers. David took great pride in his and Sarah’s children and 7 grandchildren. He had countless friends and was respected and beloved for his warmth, humor, and quick wit. David was full of laughter, integrity, love, kindness, acceptance, gentleness, music, the love of God and family, and all things good.

  David was preceded in death by his parents, brother Paul Biorn, brothers-in-law Bradley Heck and Clint Sathrum, parents-in-law, and nephew Luke Ittner. Survivors include his wife of nearly 51 years, Sarah; children Alyssa (Mike) Quiggle of Rochester, MN, Matthew (Didi) Biorn of Maun, Botswana, and Rebecca (George) Bedrnicek of Elk Horn, NE; grandchildren Maria and Natalie Quiggle, Khaya and Tasha Biorn, and Daniel, Sonia, and Samuel Bedrnicek; sisters Marie Sathrum, Katherine (Carl) Christensen, Joanne (Dennis) Everson, and Margaret Heck; and numerous brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews.

   The family extends special thanks to the staff at Holy Spirit and to Hospice of Siouxland for their love and care for David over the past several months. Memorials may be directed to the family or to First Lutheran Church, Holy Spirit Retirement Home, Hospice of Siouxland, or the National Lutheran Choir, where a fund has been established in David’s memory.