Gwendolyn B. (Whitney) (Sorenson) Sydnes (1919-2009)

SYDNES, WHITNEY, DAVIS, SORENSON, WHATTOFF, COX, FREELAND

Posted By: Tri-County Times
Date: 2/27/2009 at 01:29:34

THE TRI-COUNTY TIMES, Story County, Iowa, Thursday, February 26, 2009.

Gwendolyn B. (Whitney) (Sorenson) Sydnes, 89, formerly of Huxley, Iowa went to be with the Lord on Sunday, February 22, 2009. She died at the Madrid Nursing Home in Madrid, Iowa.

Gwen Whitney was born April 26, 1919 in Bondurant, Iowa to Lena Ruth (Davis) Whitney and Berton LeRoy Whitney. Gwen grew up on a farm with her eleven siblings. They were active in 4-H and in raising and showing sheep garnering many ribbons and awards at the Iowa State Fair, individually and as a family. She attended and graduated high school from the White Oak School in 1937.

On November 22, 1942 she married Irving B. Sorenson. During WWII Gwen worked at the Ordinance Plant in Ankeny, Iowa. After Irving returned from the war, they farmed together in Kelley, Iowa until Irving's death on July 17, 1957. To this union came a daughter, Sandra.
On June 22, 1963 Gwen married Arnold B. Sydnes at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They resided in Huxley and enjoyed traveling to Florida and later wintering in Arizona. Arnold died January 23, 1993.

Gwen was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Kelley. She worked for the State of Iowa Sales Tax Department until her retirement in 1981. She was an avid Chicago Cubs fan, enjoying her card clubs and doing word search games.

She is survived by her daughter, Sandra R. Sydnes (Richard) of Ankeny; two sisters, Wanda (Murl) Whattoff of Ames, Iowa, and Esta (Freeland) Cox of Northfield, Minnesota; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Irving B. Sorenson, and Arnold B. Sydnes; a son-in-law Raymond Vogt; her parents Bert and Ruth Whitney; her brothers Donald Whitney, Clayton (Wendell) Whitney, Russell Whitney, and Ronald Whitney; her sisters Eloise Tesdahl, Oneita Hill, Nadeene Birkestrand, Elizabeth Cronk, Harriett Elder, and Margaret Harrop; and several nieces and nephews.
Gwen will be missed by her family and friends. Blessed be her memory.

Visitation was held at Soderstrum-Riis Funeral Home in Slater, Iowa on Wednesday, February 25th. Services were held in the Sanborn Chapel at the Madrid Nursing Home, with another visitation one hour prior. Burial was at the White Oak Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the discretion of the family.

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