Marvin Sorensen

The family will greet and thank friends at Sturm Funeral Home, St. James, on Friday evening, October 23rd, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The Celebration of Life will be at the First Lutheran Church, St. James, on Saturday, October 24th, at 11:00 a.m. with visitation at the church 1 hour prior to the service. Marvin "Marv" L. Sorensen, 98, passed away on October 18, 2009 in St. James, MN. Death was due to complications following a fall at his home. Marv, the oldest child of Soren and Hilda (Movitz) Sorensen, was born on January 5, 1911, in Milnor, ND. He was baptized in Milnor. When he was a young child, the family moved to St. James where he attended District #14 Country School near his home. Due to the need for his help on the farm, he was only able to complete the 8th grade. As a youth, he was confirmed at the First Lutheran Church in St. James. It was apparent to all that Marv's first love would be the farm and everything associated with it. At the age of eight, and already an active member of the 4-H, he took his prized calf to the Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul. He and the calf traveled to the fair in a boxcar. Not long after he won a trip to the International Livestock Show in Chicago, and again he rode the train. His early career dream was to become a pilot for North Central Airlines. That goal in mind, he began flying airplanes. Barnstorming around the area in his Curtis-Robin airplane, he gave rides at county fairs charging a penny-per-pound, with hope of securing enough hours to qualify to be a commercial pilot. However, his lack of a high school diploma disqualified him for consideration. April 29, 1933, was a special day in Marv's life. He married Lenore Braun at the St. Paul's Lutheran Church in St. James. They were married for 62 years until Lenore's death on February 23, 1996. After their marriage Marv and Lenore moved to Winthrop and worked in a grocery store for Lenore's brother, Bill. They next moved to Nicollet where they owned and operated a general goods and grocery store for nine years. Following their time in Nicollet, they moved to LeSueur where he worked for the Green Giant Company. In 1949, Marv's lifelong dream became a reality. He returned to St. James and began farming. His love of animals, crops and, most importantly, the land would play a significant role in his life until his death. In addition to his farming endeavors, he sold Pioneer Seed Corn for over 20 years. He was a member of the Watonwan Farm Service Company, as well as a member of their board of directors, and he took great pride in being a 4-H Adult Leader. Farming for over 70 years, he loved to say he saw farming evolve from horses and wagons to tractors and semi-trucks. In addition to enjoying his time farming, he also enjoyed traveling. He instilled in his children the need to "see the world!" An avid outdoorsman, he loved to hunt and fish, and he and Lenore always took several fishing trips each year. It became the family joke, however, that he didn't hunt and fish just to relax. He expected to be successful bringing home deer, pheasants, and plenty of fish. In addition to his outdoor sports activities he enjoyed dancing, woodworking, his gardening, and caring for numerous cats and dogs. Playing card games, whether in a card club, with friends at the American Legion, or with his grandchildren always brought a smile to his face as he recalled bids made and games won. Marv loved his friends and his family and never forgot to send birthday or anniversary cards. He truly enjoyed seeing his family grow. In his later years, after Lenore's loss of vision , he learned to cook as a "fry pan cook" and loved to make desserts, especially apple crisp with apples he picked from his own trees. His legacy may be how much his grand children and great grandchildren loved to hear him reminisce about the "good old days." Marv is survived by his three children, Bob (Anne) Sorensen, St. James; Rog (Elly) Sorensen, Murrells Inlet, SC; and, Jan (Doug) Hart, Mount Pleasant, SC. In addition to his children, he is survived by four grandchildren, Todd (Janette) Sorensen, Prior Lake; Troy (Jennifer) Sorensen, Faribault; Traci (David) Cromer, Conway, SC, and Jennifer (Kevin) Kaylor, Pawleys Island, SC. Surviving great grandchildren are: Lucas, Elizabeth, and Kelsey Sorensen, Faribault; Danielle and Kristina Sorensen, Prior Lake; and Christopher, Caroline, and Jackson Kaylor, Pawleys Island, SC. He was preceded in death by his wife Lenore, his parents, his brother Arnold, sister Margaret, and granddaughter Chris Ellen Sorensen. Memorials may be made to First Lutheran Church, St. James; St. James Medical Center/ Hospice; St. James Opera House; and St. James Historical Society.