Milorad Bjelakovic

Milorad Bjelakovic, age 72, of Salem, VA, passed away on Saturday, January 16, 2021, after a courageous battle with lung cancer. He was born on Thursday, December 2, 1948, to the late Ranko and Tatjana Bjelakovic. Milorad grew up in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina with his parents, and two sisters. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and worked for a company called Centers for Rehabilitation of the Blind, managing their engineering department. Milorad was very popular in Sarajevo and had many friends that he enjoyed spending time with. He loved to travel and play sports. Soccer and tennis were his favorite. As a young man, he was the lead guitar player for the first Yugoslavian rock and roll group called “Grupa 220.” The Rolling Stones were his favorite band. Due to the war in former Yugoslavia, Milorad was fortunate to bring his family to Roanoke, VA in 1997. He rebuilt his life with his wife and daughter, learned English very quickly, and finished his career at Plastics One (now P1 Technologies, Inc.) as a Quality Assurance Specialist. He spent his retirement with his family and his favorite companion; his Yorkie, Pako. He will always be remembered as a wonderful husband to Vesna and the best father to his beloved Anja. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Petar and Latinka Hrkalovic; paternal grandfather, Ivan Vidak Bjelakovic; and a sister, Radmila Bjelakovic Arslanagic.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Vesna Bjelakovic; daughters, Anja, and Irena Bjelakovic; grandson, Noah; and sister, Ranka Sekara.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, January 24, 2021, at the John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home in Salem, VA. The doors will open after 1 p.m. so that Milorad’s friends may begin taking their seats. The service will also be broadcast on the funeral home’s website underneath Mr. Bjelakovic’s obituary.
Those in attendance are asked to wear a mask and practice social distancing regarding local government and CDC guidance.
The family wishes to give thanks to the wonderful nurses with Good Samaritan Hospice.
In lieu of flowers, consider making a donation to the Lung Cancer Foundation of America: lcfamerica.org or Good Samaritan Hospice: goodsam.care in honor of Milorad.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.johnmoakey.com.