Sorenson, Allen Lee (1926-2016)

SORENSON, WING, HANSON, FAHRENKROG, PRIOR, DUNBAR, SPEARS, HABURN

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 11/12/2016 at 20:12:46

Allen Sorenson
November 5, 1926 - September 17, 2016

Allen Lee Sorenson, age 89, of Spencer, Iowa, formerly of Sioux Rapids, Iowa, died on Saturday, September 17, 2016, at the Spencer Municipal Hospital. He was born on November 5, 1926, to Thelma (Wing) and Sigurd Sorenson. He graduated from Highview in 1944.

On August 17, 1947, Allen took the hand of Gayla Mae Hanson at the First Lutheran Church in Sioux Rapids. Subsequently, they were blessed with two children, Rebecca Ruth in 1948 and Robert Allen in 1952.

While the kids were young, Allen and Gayla made their home in rural Linn Grove, both working at the Highview School. During their 69-year marriage, however, Allen had many jobs. Since he enjoyed talking to people and working with his hands, he helped on the family farm south of Linn Grove, worked as a janitor at Highview, sold life insurance, became a traveling salesman for Wynn’s Friction Proofing, and repaired appliances. His pride and joy came when he purchased the hardware store in Sioux Rapids in 1968. He had not only all the nuts and bolts his customers needed but also the knowledge of a talented electrician and plumber. Not infrequently his home phone would ring in the middle of the night and Allen would get up and get on his way to help someone with a furnace that quit working. Sorenson Hardware was a staple of Sioux Rapids through the early 2000s. Allen’s son, Robert, worked at the store in the early years, and later, Allen brought in his son-in-law, James, and grandson, John, to help with the service calls. In 2004, Gayla convinced Allen to retire from the hardware store and converted their home into a small bed and breakfast so that they could continue to entertain people and share their stories.

A 50-year member and a Past Master of the Enterprise Lodge of Sioux Rapids, he served as secretary for the last few decades. A Past Patron of the Buena Vista Chapter of the Order Of The Eastern Star (OES) Sioux Rapids as well, he had, actively, supported that organizations too. Indeed, he attendrd meetings until he could no longer climb the steps to get to them. Moreover, Allen belonged to other Masonic bodies including the Tall Corn Study group, Commandary, Royal Arch Masons, and White Shrine.

An amazing historian, Allen knew more about the founders of Sioux Rapids than most historical books. At one point, he took on the task of learning about the Vikings and their paths through Buena Vista and Clay Counties. He mapped out the Viking Rocks throughout the counties and loved to share that information with anyone from historical meetings to school classrooms.

Allen was a very outgoing pillar of the community. Often the grandkids would introduce themselves as Allen Sorenson’s grandchild. Allen served the community for two terms as mayor and spent numerous terms on the city council. A proud and active member of the First United Church in Sioux Rapids, he served on many committees and counsels, and he led the choir. He was also noted for meditating during the sermon, as he described it, if you caught him with his eyes closed.

Allen always made time for his family. Whether he was helping with a home fix-it project or tutoring during those hard history or math lessons, he was always patient and kind with his family. He attended as many of their activities as he could from sporting events and musical performances to recitals and plays.

If visitors had time for a cup of coffee, Allen had time to share some of his knowledge with them. He enjoyed talking about the past and the present. He, always, had an opinion on pressing issues, and he, gladly, shared his views. He, also, enjoyed playing cards with a group of people or taking Gayla on in a game of cribbage. Moreover, he enjoyed doing puzzles or any sort of word search, always keeping his mind sharp, and he never missed a rerun episode of MASH.

After moving to Riverview Terrace in Spencer for medical reasons and becoming familiar with the new faces and his environment, Allen began sharing his stories and taking part in a variety of activities.

Allen Lee Sorenson entered the gates of Heaven on September 17, 2016. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Gayla Sorenson; one daughter and her husband, Rebecca and James Fahrenkrog, of Linn Grove; one son and his wife, Robert and Jeanne Sorenson, of Des Moines; four adoring grandchildren and their spouses: Kevin and Kim Sorenson, of Ames, Jen and Chris Prior, of Sioux Rapids, Lisa and Nelson Dunbar, of Ogden, and John and Josie Fahrenkrog, of Sioux Rapids; his great grandkids, who gave him the nickname of Papa GG – Addy, Mac, AJ Cody, Trent April, Carter Jacob, Kinnick, Bryce, Hayden; one brother and his wife, Dale and Janice Sorenson, of Alta; and his sisters-in-law, Solveig Spears, of Minneapolis; and Diane Haburn, of Nevada, Iowa; along with a host of other family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thelma and Sigurd Sorenson.

A father, grandfather, brother, friend, and a man, he will be missed and remembered for a lifetime.

Funeral services will be held Friday, September 23, 2016, at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Church in Sioux Rapids. Burial will follow in the Lone Tree Cemetery in Sioux Rapids. Visitation will take place Thursday, September 22, 2016, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids. A Masonic Service will be held at 6:30 p.m., Thursday evening, at the funeral home. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids is in charge of the arrangements.

Copyright © 2016, Sliefert Funeral Homes

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