"I just found out a couple of hours ago of Jim's passing and I am shocked at all of this! We worked together at Harris Corporation and he was a kind soul. Whenever I visited NSOF we would run into each other and chat about work. Jim had a very friendly and calm demeanor. A chat with Jim after a stressful event in the lab would always calm one down. As recently as last August I saw him up there in Suitland. Rest in peace, my friend. My sincere condolences to Jim's family."
In loving memory of
James Blok
March 16, 1951 - January 11, 2017
James Blok, age 65, of Charles Town, died Wednesday, January 11, 2017 at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, WV. He was born March 16, 1951 in Bismark, ND, a son of the late James and Junes (Solberg) Blok. Survivors include his wife of 29 years, Joyce Brown Blok; three children, Jennifer Bergsma and her husband Matthew of Grand Rapids, MI, Michelle Guzinski and her husband Leonard of Sterling Heights, MI, and Jackie Buchan and her husband Matthew of St. Louis, MO; three grandchildren, Hannah and Caitlin Bergsma and Liam Guzinski; a brother, John Blok of Grand Rapids, MI; a sister, Joni Maile and her husband Jim; as well as several nieces and nephews. Jim enjoyed his 32 years of working for Harris Corporation. Jim started work with Harris Corporation in Melbourne, FL on April 30, 1984 as a Senior Material Administrator. In June of 1985 he transferred to Harris in Bellevue, NE as a Material Manager and Manufacturing Engineer. During that time he lead the manufacturing activities for many Omaha (Bellevue) programs and lead the installation of a major hardware installation in Japan. Jim transferred to Herndon, VA working as the Supply Chain Manager from January 2006 through January 2012.From January 2012 until January 11, 2017 Jim worked on the GOES-R program at the Greenbelt, MD office and then at the NSOF in Suitland, MD as a Logistics Engineer. Jim was instrumental in putting in place the sparing plan, the sustainment support processes and procedures for this significant Harris program.Jim was a very kind, loving and patient husband, father and friend. He had a love of life and was a kid at heart. He will be greatly missed. A celebration of life will take place at Bavarian Inn in the Terrace Room on Sunday, January 15 from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm. At 3pm the family will have a short tribute to Jim with a buffet to follow. In lieu of flowers, send donations to the Wounded Warrior Project https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org or St. Jude Children's Hospital https://www.stjude.org in remembrance of Jim. Professional services are under the direction of Smith Funeral & Cremation Care, 108 Holland Ave., Morgantown.To send personal condolences and other symbolic gestures, please visit www.smithfuneralandcremationcare.com.
Tributes
"I am thinking of you all today.... continued love and prayers go out to you.... love.......Marsha"
"Rest in Peace my friend. You Harris family will miss you, and nobody can replace your extensive knowledge and experience. I enjoyed working with Jim and all the good times we had together on the GOES-R program. To Jim's family, you have my sympathy."
"To the family of James Blok...... our sympathy is expressed for your loss .... may God lift up each member during these days.......and give strength to carry on.......think of the good memories you all enjoyed together. We think of the families visit to North Dakota.....in the fifties.In Jim's memory we are giving to St Jude's Children's Hospital.... and the Wounded Warrior Project.........love and peace....Alfred & Lucille, Wayne&Becky, and Marsha and Grant"
"We will miss our neighbor, grill master, #1 Michigan fan (Go Hoosiers), card shark and friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with Joyce and the entire extended family. We were blessed to have known him."
"I have wonderful memories of Jimmy..... all of the summer trips when we got to see the 5J's when they came through Fargo on their way to Carrington..... picnics with all the extended Solberg family....thoughts and prayers in your days ahead..... we were also fortunate to see Jim and Joyce when we were in Washington DC about 5 or 6 years ago for a quick lunch with great connections.......love...... Marsha and Grant"
"So sorry to hear about Jim my thoughts and prayers are with your family. Love Sara Ford ( Marsha's daughter)"