John D. Sorensen

July 27, 1929 - January 30, 2021

John Douglas Sorensen died on January 30, 2021 at the age of 91. He passed in his sleep after living and loving his way through an extraordinarily heathy ninety-one year life. He has gone to be with his lifelong loving bride Coletta A. (Kerwin) Sorensen (1934-2007), and his son Michael A Sorensen (1958-2018). John was born in Chicago on July 27, 1929. This handsome and strong-willed boy proudly rode his horse named Knucklehead and even preformed in the Rodeo. Born to Olaf and Mary, he grew up with his brother Cleo Sorensen, sisters Isabel Kastengren and Joanne Eaker. John was twenty one years old when he join the U.S. army, celebrating his 22nd birthday aboard a ship bound for Korea. He was part of the 31st Infantry, the only Regiment in the Armed Forces with the right to call themselves “American Foreign Legion”. A story he told just weeks before he died, was that he was surprised to rise to the level of Sargent within weeks of his deployment. It was an assessment made on the fly by the leadership of our military. He didn’t let them down. Teaching Jujitsu to the rank and file and leading the mortar fire teams to victory on the battle field. John was decorated with two Purple Heart awards for his battlefield injuries defending our country. After returning from the war, John started his career in sales for Croname Inc. There he met the love of his life, the late Coletta Ann Kerwin. They married in July of 1954. Together John and Coletta raised a family of five children; John, Katherine, Michael, Phillip and Matthew. John was a hard-working man and transferred his family from Chicago, to Detroit and back to the suburbs of Chicago. The family lived, laughed, and loved for decades. John was known for great parties. He always stayed up to date on music of every genre, had a state of the art stereo system and introduced his kids and their friends to rock, folk, and country. He was well known for sing a-longs with his wife, children and their friends. They played guitars, sang, laughed, and he shared his unique dance stylings known by all as “the bent-leg/straight-leg”. In 2000, John and Coletta retired to Pal Harbor Florida, where the music and fun still prevailed. John is survived by his son John D. (Andrea) Sorensen Jr., daughter, Katherine A. (Sorensen) Hansen, Phillip R. (Bohdanna) Sorensen; Matthew S. (Judy) Sorensen, 12 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. A private memorial service will be held at Curlew Hills Memory Gardens, in Palm Harbor Florida, date to be determined. Those who wish to remember John in a special way, may make a donation in his memory to the Wounded Warrior Project.