Edward W. Sorensen

SIOUX CITY | Edward W. "Ed" Sorensen, 87 of Sioux City, Iowa died Tuesday, August 27, 2013 at a local hospital after a brief illness. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, August 30, 2013 at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Burial will be in Graceland Park Cemetery with military graveside rites by the U.S. Naval Reserve. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Thursday with the family present 6-8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent online at www.meyerbroschapels.com. Ed was born Jan. 14, 1926 in Sioux City to Albert M. and Minnie M. (Stevens) Sorensen. He grew up in the Greenville area of town and attended Sioux City schools. Ed enlisted with the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He was called back to active duty during the Korean Conflict where he worked the radio shack at Alameda (Calif.) Naval Air Station. After his discharge he enlisted with the U.S. Naval Reserve. On October 20, 1951 he married Shirley M. Hofeldt in Sioux City. Ed, a truck driver, retired from Hyman Freightways in June of 1984. The same time, he also retired from the Naval Reserve as a Chief Petty Officer, with a total of 41 years and 3 months in the Navy. His wife, Shirley died on March 20, 1995 in Sioux City. Ed was a member of the Teamster's Union, the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 54, and the American Legion Post 307 (Nebr.). He was a former comandar of the Disabled American Veteran's Thrift Store in Riverside and was an honorary member of the Siouxland Modelers Club. Being an avid supporter of credit unions, Ed was a member of Sioux Valley Credit Union and Telco Triad Credit Union. He was also a member of Riverside United Methodist Church. Ed loved family get togethers, spending time at his cabin on Oakwood Lake in South Dakota, fishing and woodworking. While raising their children, he and Shirley gardened together, played cards with close friends, participated in league bowling and camped at Little Sioux, Iowa. He will be remembered as a devoted husband, father and grandfather and as someone who never met a stranger'. Survivors include his three children and their spouses, Julie and Ron Foster, Robert and Diane Sorensen all of Sioux City, Jenelle and Bill Huser of South Sioux City, Nebr.; 10 grandchildren, Becky (Nick) Gaul, Jason (Lindsay) Foster, Danielle (Andrew) Soepnel, Angela (Aaron) Walsh, Elise (Zach) Gass, Nathaniel Sorensen (and special friend, Nicole), Jason Conaway, Dustie (Kevin) Maynard, Richard Huser and Thea Huser; 13 great-grandchildren; a sister, Katherine Bussey of Des Moines, IA; a sister-in-law, Mary Jane Sorensen of Arizona; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, a son (Richard), his parents, a sister (Bonnie Chicoine), two brothers, (Clarence "Flash" Sorensen and Lawrence Gronberg) and two infant siblings. Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers will be his grandchildren.