Sorensen, Roger James (1946 - 2023)

SORENSEN, SHAW, HANSON

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 8/8/2023 at 15:00:23

Name of deceased: Roger James Sorensen

Aged: 77 yrs, 1 mo, 11 days

Residence: Harlan, IA

Born: June 17, 1946; Atlantic, Cass County, IA

Died: July 28, 2023; Myrtue Medical Center, Harlan, Shelby County, IA

Funeral services: Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023; First Baptist Church, Harlan, IA; burial was in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Lincoln Township, Harlan, IA

Survived by: Wife of 58 years, Bev Sorensen of Harlan, IA; children, Todd (spouse, Rachelle) Sorensen of Brentwood, TN, Corey (spouse, Michelle) Sorensen of Harlan, IA, Barry (spouse, Emily) Sorensen of Harlan, IA, and Tammy (spouse, Eric) Shaw of Omaha, NE; 11 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren + 1 on the way; brother, Richard (spouse, Linda) Sorensen of Council Bluffs, IA; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Merlin and Ethel Sorensen

Education: Graduated from Walnut (IA) High School, Class of 1964; while there, he played football, trumpet and was involved in the Future Farmers of America. In the Fall of 1965, Roger moved to Estherville, Iowa where he attended Estherville Community College. Roger and Bev were married while he was attending college, but he was not deterred from graduating with his associates degree in the Spring of 1967.

Religious affiliation: A man of great faith, but no information provided as to church membership

Military service: no information provided

Marriage: Bev Hanson; May 28, 1965; Bethel Baptist Church, Harlan, IA

Employment: After completing high school, Roger worked for a year operating heavy construction equipment in a quarry near Logan, IA as well as on a team involved in the construction of Interstate 80. A large portion of this time was spent on the construction of the Marne exit (51) of Interstate 80. Following his college graduation, Roger worked in auto sales for some time before he was hired by Gulf Oil Corporation in a “troubleshooting” role. Shortly after, the family moved to Ames, IA, where Roger and Bev owned and operated the new Gulf gas station near the interstate. Roger then purchased Haase Oil Company (3 gas stations and tank-wagon business) and moved back to Harlan, IA in December 1971. In 1976, Roger was awarded the Ford tractor dealership in Harlan, realizing a life-long dream of operating a farm equipment dealership. They took delivery of a handful of tractors while still operating the stations and tank-wagon business as they waited for the completion of the building on Highway 59. Sorensen Ford Equipment grew substantially over the years, winning several awards and competitions for volumes and sales. In 1982, Roger added Kinze to the brands represented at Sorensen Ford, leading to a change in the name to Sorensen Equipment. Sorensen Equipment experienced incredible growth, and Kinze eventually became the primary brand and Sorensen Equipment became, and remains, the largest Kinze dealer in North America.

Hobbies/Interests: In the late 1970s and 1980s, Roger took an interest in “tractor pulling,” experiencing significant success in Western Iowa and Eastern Nebraska; tractor pulling then gave way to racing as sons Corey and Barry joined him in the business and had an interest in racing.

Sources: kjan.com; pauleyjones.com