Sorenson, Ordell

Ordell E. Sorenson, 74, of Waterville, died Monday, March 7, 2011, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 11, at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville, with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Burial will be held in the church cemetery, rural Waterville. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.

Ordell Eugene Sorenson, only child of Selmer G. and Alma B. (Anderson) Sorenson was born May 31, 1936, on his parents farm in rural Waterville, Iowa. He graduated from Waterville High School in 1954. Ordell joined the Army and was stationed at Fort Leonardwood, Mo. He married Grace Marie Hager on Sept. 5, 1959, at the First Presbyterian Church in Waukon. They farmed together for many years. Ordell and Grace were blessed with four children.

Ordell held a deep love for Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church, where he was a lifelong member. Faith came first for Ordell and this was most evident through his many years of leadership and service throughout the congregation. He enjoyed visiting new community members and inviting them to the church. He passed on this faith to his children. In 1986, both Ordell and Grace became licensed in insurance with Lutheran Brotherhood, a fraternal company. He enjoyed the fraternal aspect of the business as this provided funds for many community projects. Ordell retired from Lutheran Brotherhood in 1998.

Ordell was passionate about music and sang in various groups during his high school years, the church choir, the Switzerland of Iowa Harmonizers Barbershop Chorus and enjoyed singing in a barbershop quartet for a number of years. Ordell was an avid believer in soil conservation. He started in this process while farming with his father in 1952 and continued it during his life. He and his son-in-law, Gregg Hoins received the Overall Conservation Award and also the NE-IA District award. Ordell enjoyed the outdoors, including hunting and fishing. He and Grace enjoyed their cabin in Harpers Ferry, where they entertained many family and friends through the years. Ordell was very proud of his 10 grandchildren and enjoyed attending their many activities.

Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Grace Sorenson of Waterville; and his children, Debra Jean (Bill) Tobias of Cedar Rapids, Steven Eric (Kim) Sorenson of Oelwein, and their three sons, Jacob Daniel, Benjamin Eric and Michael Isaac, Kristine Diane (Gregg) Hoins of Waterville, and their children, Samuel Scott, Elizabeth Kaye, Anna Kristine and Matthew Aaron, Pastor David Ordell (Joleen) Sorenson of Hampton, and their children, Kiersten Adena, Andrew David and Garrett Eugene.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Honorary casketbearers are Larry Andreassen, Melvin David Allen Anderson, Eugene Engrav, Margaret Hermeier, Anna, Elizabeth and Matthew Hoins, Pastor John Smith, Benjamin, Garrett, Kiersten and Michael Sorenson. Casketbearers are Herb Sorum, Pastor Paul Tobiason, Herb Larkin, Sam Hoins, Andrew and Jacob Sorenson, Gladwin Anderson and Mack Snyder.

In lieu of flowers, Ordell's wishes were that donations would be made to Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church Sunday School Building Fund or to Veteran's Memorial Hospital Hospice Care Unit.

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