Chris Ray Sorensen

Chris Raymond Sorensen February 19, 1923 to March 6, 2011 Ray, born in Gowrie, Iowa to Minnie (nee Petersen of Exira) and Chris Sorensen, has died at age 88. His sister Gloria Ann was born in 1925 and Mary Rose was born in 1928. This Danish-American family moved to Chicago in 1932. In 1935 his father, a butter maker, bought half interest in a creamery in Morton, Illinois. Ray worked there until he enlisted in the Army's Cavalry in October of 1942. In 1936 Ray recruited five boys to start Scout Troop 85. At 19 he was the Assistant Scoutmaster. He graduated with the M.T.H.S. class of 1941 and adopted Morton as his hometown. Ray left for Australia in June of 1943 as an MP with the First Cavalry Division. In February of 1945, after 20 months of duty mostly around Brisbane, he sailed to Manila. There he was appointed a Special Agent in the Criminal Investigation Division. After 30 months overseas, he returned to Illinois in January of 1946, ending his WWII service. He soon went back to working in the creamery as an apprentice butter maker. In late March Ray started dating an intelligent personable petite Morton beauty: Florence Emma Schenke. They married in October and resided in Peoria. In mid 1947 they migrated to Phoenix. After a year in that climate, both developed health problems, so they moved on to San Diego. Here Ray began a 35 year insurance career. He joined the Army Reserve in December 1949 and was recalled for service in September 1950. Florence stayed with her parents while Ray attended an Army school in Baltimore, Maryland, after which he was appointed a Special Agent in the Counter-Intelligence Corps. He then reported to his unit in Alabama, where they lived in Enterprise. When released after 20 months, they returned to California, but not to San Diego. They came to the San Francisco Bay Area and lived in Berkeley for three years. Their daughter Melody Ann was born in 1953. Another daughter, Judith Jean, was born after they moved to El Cerrito in 1955. In May of 1966 Ray was transferred to Chicago, where he bought their first house in suburban Lisle. Ray was transferred back to San Francisco in 1974. They bought a townhouse in Walnut Creek; it was to become their last home. The girls stayed in Lisle to finish school. Ray was frequently flying all over the ""lower 48"" to conduct management/underwriting audits, just as he had done in Chicago. Eventually both daughters returned to California, Melody first and Judy a few years after marrying Edward McIntyre. Now they had a granddaughter, plus a grandson soon thereafter, and in 1983 another granddaughter to cherish. Ray retired in October of 1985, after 27 1/2 years with Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, where he specialized in auto underwriting. In retirement Florence and Ray travelled across the U.S. and western Canada, often with friends. Florence passed away in August of 1998, ending a nearly 52 year marriage. Ray never stopped grieving for his wife. Both of his sisters preceded him in death. Surviving are his daughters, his son-in-law, granddaughters Megan and Amy, grandson Sean, great grandsons Cody, Daniel and Jimmy, and great granddaughter Samantha. His much loved daughters and Ed provided considerable assistance in his declining years. Nephew Bruce Hertenstein and wife Donnas were frequent and helpful visitors and loving friends. Ray was always proud of having held two of the most responsible assignments ever given to any enlisted soldier: CID and CIC. He lived over half a century in California, but never forgot his mid-western roots. A man of many interests, he had owned 18 guns and hand loaded ammo for target shooting. When younger, he enjoyed bicycling, camping, hunting, fishing and playing poker. He also enjoyed music, movies, working puzzles, reading, geography, Indian and Western lore, birds and animals, and military organizations. His first priority was always caring for his family; hosting family dinners was a special pleasure. Ray's last request was to acknowledge the pleasure of knowing, fondness and respect for these long time friends: Bob Aulert - his pal during the early '30s in Chicago and witness at his wedding. Robert Andersen - his cousin, fellow shooter and Iowan. Mortonites: Ray and Eleanor Jacob, with whom Ray and Florence often stayed when in Morton, Bob and Doris Brecher, Louise Wanner, Gwen Sommer, sister-in-law Ruth Muehling and her husband Cecil, brother-in-law Wib Hertenstein, and Ray's mentor as a teenager, Claude Ryan. Californians: Margaret Bremneour, R.B. DuVal, Bill and Fay Gilchrist, Dewey Gruening, Joanna Larson, Tracey Kincade, Vance Morris, Ray and Betty Stocker, Warren Tarshis, and Carmen Velez. Ray has moved again after residing in Walnut Creek since September of 1974. He is now ""resting"" alongside Florence, high on a hillside overlooking the Diablo Valley from Oakmont Memorial Gardens, a cemetery with a Lafayette address. But you can be sure, that if it is possible, his spirit is searching for the soul of his dearly beloved ""Punkinsen"". A graveside service will be held on Thursday March 10, 2011 at 11:00 am at Oakmont Memorial Park. Donations may be made in Ray's memory to Hospice of the East Bay or the American Heart Association.