Joel Maurice Sorenson, 1936-2006

SORENSON

Posted By: Clay County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 2/14/2007 at 16:57:26

Services were held Nov. 29, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Spencer, Iowa for Joel Maurice Sorenson. Pastor Tom Dettmer officiating. Organist was Jan Palm. Casket bearers were Jerry Bishop, Al Schmidt, Lynn Galbraith, Gary Jackson, Bill Hemme, and John Schurr. Honorary bearers were members of the Clay County Supervisors, all Clay County Personnel and all members of other Clay County Board Committees that were associated with Joel. Internment was the Riverside Cemetery in Spencer, Iowa.

Joel Maurice Sorenson, the son of Harold and Agnes Fingerson Sorenson, was born January 5, 1936 in Spencer, Iowa. His childhood years were spent in rural Spencer, where he received his education in country schools and later graduated from Spencer High School in 1954. Following his schooling, he entered the Iowa National Guard, where he served for six years.

Joel married Ellen Schomaker on April 5, 1959 in Ames, Iowa. Following their marriage, they made their home on a farm between Dickens and Spencer, wherer they farmed for their entire life. He was an active member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Spencer, serving on the church board. Joel was also active in Clay County and served as Clay County Supervisor for 16 years. He also served on several boards in Clay County including Terril School Board, UDM Board, and the Farm Bureau Board. He was also active with the FFA and was a member of the AMPI Dairy Producers Association, Clay County Cattlemen's Association and the Clay County Pork Producer's Association, where he was also on the board.

Joel passed away at the Spencer Hospital on Thursday, November 23, 2006 at the age of 70. He was preceded in death by his parents, aunts and uncles.

He is survived by his wife, Ellen of Dickens; two sons, Jon and his wife, Linda Sorenson of rural Terril, IA and Jay and his wife, Lori of rural Dickens, IA; one daughter, Carol and her husband, Brad Bates of Houston, TX; 8 grandchildren; one great-grandson; one sister, Judy Sorenson of Spencer; a sister-in-law, Dorothy Dyer of Ames, IA; a brother-in-law and his wife, John and Maggie Schomaker of rural Roland, IA; several nieces and nephews and other relatives and many, many friends.

The Graettinger Times, Graettinger, Palo Alto County, Iowa, December 6, 2006.