Obit: Sorenson, Victor C. (1943 - 2019)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Sorenson, Ziemba, Johnson, Luchsinger, Butterfield, Kiefer, Hepburn, Blexrude, Ernst, Ipsen, Sliwka, Dorn, Gunter, Koepke

----Source: Leiser Funeral Home (Cadott, Chippewa Co., WI) 11/03/2020

Sorenson, Victor C. (14 November 1943 – 1 April 2019)

I, Victor C. Sorensen, started living on November 14, 1943 with Hans C. and Victoria (Ziemba) Sorensen, my parents, in Stanley, WI.

I stopped living on April 1, 2019 because of pancreatic cancer.

I attended Brownville Grade School, a one room country school, was active in the FFA, and graduated from Stanley High School in 1961. I farmed with my parents for 2 years after high school, but the winters got too boring, so I then attended UW-EC while still helping my parents on the farm and commuting to college. I graduated with a chemistry major, math and physics minors in 1967. I did my student teaching at Altoona High School with Arnie Johnson as my mentor, Arnie and I became best friends. I was hired by the district, loved teaching, my students, and remained teaching in Altoona for 43 years, retiring in 2010. I graduated with a master’s degree in chemistry from UWEC in 1974. I was active in teacher negotiations, the Democratic Party, Chippewa Valley Apartment Association, ski jumping, genealogy, and was a volunteer at the Chippewa Valley Free Clinic, and a member of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church. I spent many summers doing building construction for myself, relatives, and friends and owned a number of rental units, where I did my own maintenance on them.

I was married to Barbara Luchsinger from 1966 to 1992. We had two sons, Rolf Erik (Tara Butterfield) and Christopher Hans (Michelle Kiefer) of Eau Claire. I married my true love, Darla (Hepburn) Blexrude in 1995. Darla and I made many trips to Hawaii as supporters of the University of Wisconsin Swim Team and enjoyed using our timeshares in Florida, California, Virginia and elsewhere.

I was preceded in death by my parents; brothers, Jack of Boyd, Hans L. and Raymond of Stanley; sisters, Roselle of Stanley and Dolores Ernst of Midlothian, VA; Grandparents, Jens and Regina (Ipsen) Sorensen, Jan and Anna (Sliwka) Ziemba and a close friend, Arnold I. Johnson.

I am survived by wife, Darla; my two sons, Rolf and Christopher of Eau Claire; brother, Richard (Carol) of Gwinn, MI; sister, Roseann Dorn and sister-in-law, Violet Sorensen of Stanley; grandsons, Dominick and Bronson Sorensen of Eau Claire, Josef and Alex Gunter of Augusta; Great-grandson, Bryant Sorensen, Eau Claire; two stepchildren, Kristin (Aaron) Koepke of Eau Claire and Brandon Blexrude of Madison, and step-granddaughter, sweet lovable Aria Koepke of Eau Claire.

I enjoyed skiing, golfing, and hunting with family and friends. My greatest enjoyment was dancing with Darla to Polish music, especially Obereks. We loved attending the Pulaski Polka Fest. This January I was surprised and honored to be nominated to the Eau Claire Ski Club Hall of Fame. I received an award at the Silvermine Ski Jumping Tournament acknowledging the many years of work I contributed to rebuilding the ski jumping hills and adding electricity and lights on the hill.

I want to thank the Mayo Cancer Center of Eau Claire and Rochester for the great care I was given by doctors and nurses who worked there.

I enjoyed a good life and didn’t look forward to it ending, so just remember all the good times. I was cremated and please come to my Celebration of Life Service which will be held on Monday, April 8, 2019 at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, 1915 Hogeboom Ave, Eau Claire, WI and share memories of our time together. Visitation will be from 9:30 - 11 a.m., service at 11 a.m. followed by the committal at Forest Hill Cemetery. Following the committal, a luncheon will be served in our Fellowship Hall.