JERALD SORENSEN

PANORA - Jerald "Jerry" Sorensen, 67, of Panora, formerly of Storm Lake, died Saturday, October 4, 2008 at his home surrounded by his wife and children, following a courageous battle with cancer.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 9 at United Methodist Church in Storm Lake, with burial in Storm Lake Cemetery. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation with the family present will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, October 8th at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home, 1615 West Milwaukee in Storm Lake. Those who wish to send online condolences to the family may do so via the funeral home website: www. fratzkejensen.com

Jerald J. "Jerry" Sorensen was born at home on August 28, 1941 in Guthrie County, Iowa to Hans and Edith Madsen Sorensen. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. Jerry spent his childhood in the Guthrie Center area, first attending country school and later graduating from Guthrie Center High School in 1959.

On February 26, 1966, Jerry was united in marriage to Mary Beth Goodwin in the United Methodist Church in Storm Lake. The couple was blessed with three children: Angela Beth, Jerald Jerome II, and Janelle Marie. Jerry and Mary Beth made their home in Storm Lake for many years, where he was employed by Seiler Plumbing and Buena Vista Regional Medical Center before starting his own plumbing business. They moved to Panora in December 2004 and Jerry retired in April 2007.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 42 years, Mary Beth of Panora, Iowa; his daughter, Angie (Mark) Kiefer of Lehigh, Iowa; his son, J. J. (Tera) Sorensen of Newton, Iowa; his daughter, Janelle (Jason) Van Vactor of Cherokee, Iowa; his grandchildren: Grace, Emma and Clayton Kiefer of Lehigh; Kaitlyn and Aren Sorensen of Newton, and Allison and Alea Van Vactor of Cherokee; brothers Dale (Wilma) Sorensen of Shirley, Arkansas and Arnold (Loretta) Sorensen of Manson, Iowa; sister Norma (Thomas) McMichael of Audubon, Iowa; mother-in-law Bea Goodwin of Storm Lake; brother-in-law Vernon "Bud" (Carolyn) Goodwin of Sioux City, Iowa; sisters- in-law: Barbara McGowan of Carroll, Iowa; Becky Harders of Fort Collins, Colorado; and Bobbie (Ron) Sargent of Storm Lake; many nieces and nephews, cousins, extended family and a host of friends.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; his stepfather, Gaillord Long; his father-in-law, Vernon Goodwin; his brother, Merlin Sorensen, his sister, Donna Parker; and his brothers- in-law, Dan Harders and James McGowan.