Sorensen, Jeanne Ardis (Nielsen) (1931 – 2021)

SORENSEN, NIELSEN, LOUIS, JORGENSEN

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 4/11/2021 at 19:25:34

Name of deceased: Jeanne Ardis Sorensen (nee Nielsen)

Aged: 89 yrs, 2 mo, 10 days

Residence: Phoenix, Maricopa County, AZ

Born: Dec. 14, 1931; Harlan, Shelby County, IA

Died: Feb. 24, 2021; Phoenix, Maricopa County, AZ

Funeral services: Memorial service, followed by a reception: Sunday, March 14, 2021; Hope Church, Phoenix, AZ; memorial service also to be held Saturday, July 3, 2021, Ingham Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camp, Milford, IA

Survived by: Husband, Connie; sister, Lona Louis; brother, David (spouse, Sandy) Nielsen; sister-in-law, Cheryl Nielsen; children, Mark (spouse, Tonya) and Paul (spouse, Carol); grandchildren, Tedra (spouse, Luke) Jorgensen, Gavin, Briele, David (spouse, Desirae), Nathan (spouse, Lana) and April; great-grandchildren, Austin, Trista, Silas, Finnegan, and Anna Eleise; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Ralph and Frieda Nielsen; brothers, Don and Stanley Nielsen; brother-in-law, Fred “Skip” Louis

Education: Rode her bicycle to their 1- room schoolhouse, Jackson #2, with one of her siblings riding on the front handlebar and one on the back of the bike; graduated as valedictorian from Harlan High school, Class of 1949; she attended Dana College, Blair, NE, the next fall, working toward a degree in elementary education. Two years of college qualified her to teach in Iowa’s rural elementary schools, first at a one-room country school, then Irwin, IA and then Harlan, IA. She finished her degree by making the 65-mile 1-way trip to Dana College each Saturday and many summer mornings to take classes, receiving her bachelor’s degree from Dana 23 years later, summa cum laude as salutatorian of the Class of 1972.

Religious affiliation: Member, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville, IA; was a member of the Bethlehem Lutheran Choir and led the teen Luther League program there

Military service: n/a

Marriage: Conrad (“Connie”) Sorensen; Sep. 26, 1953; Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville, IA

Employment: After her marriage, Jeanne was employed by Lutheran Social Services in Des Moines, IA. In 1959, they began farming. Jeanne helped establish and manage the Mustard Seed Christian Book Store in Harlan, IA for several years.

Hobbies/Interests: Loved organizing family vacations and attending local concerts and sporting events; enjoyed reading, watching sports, remodeling the house, traveling, and baking; also served on the Board of Directors of Mexico Mission International. In the mid-70s, Jeanne and Connie became co-directors of Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camp, an endeavor which lasted for 17 years; they then served part-time for another 13 years while their son, Mark, was the director. As an outgrowth of the camp ministry, Jeanne organized an annual quilt auction and also created a travel program for adults. She was asked to serve as interim director of Riverside Bible Camp in Story City, IA for 1 year, which resulted in that camp now thriving.

Sources: harlanonline.com; hansenmortuary.com