Eleanor Sornson

Eleanor Sornson, 102, a lifelong Elk Horn, Iowa, area resident passed away Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2007, at the Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn.

Eleanor was born November 10, 1905, on the family farm in Shelby County, Iowa, the daughter of M.J. and Inger Maria Peitersen Madsen.

She was a 1925 graduate of the Elk Horn High School and for the next four years Eleanor taught country school.

On June 5, 1929, Eleanor married Elmer T. Sornson in the parsonage of the Elk Horn Lutheran Church. They lived on the family farm until 1974, when they moved to Elk Horn. After Elmer passed away in October of 1994, Eleanor continued to live a long and blessed life in her own home until July of 2006.

Eleanor belonged to the Elk Horn Lutheran Church and she found great joy and comfort in her time spent in church activities.

Her hobbies were music and china painting. She was an accomplished singer with a beautiful voice and also a skilled china painter, who loved to give away her finished pieces.
Foremost and above all of her other activities, the greatest love of Eleanor's life was her family. She took great interest in each and every one and her pride and love for them was obvious to all who knew her.

Eleanor is survived by three sons, Dr. Rodney Sornson and his wife, Zola of San Diego, California, Galen Sornson and his wife, Eileen of Elk Horn, Iowa, Dr. Elmer T. Sornson, Jr. and his wife, Vivienne of Salem, Oregon; and her daughter, Mary Rose Sornson of Cape Coral, Florida.

Also surviving are her grandchildren, Rodney Sornson and his wife, Lynn, Mark Sornson and his wife, Caroline, all of San Diego, California; Shawn Sornson and his wife, Pamela, Brian Sornson and his wife, Heidi, Heather Moate and her husband, Kevin, and Christian Sornson and his wife Crystal, all of Salem, Oregon; Bradley Sornson and his wife Jeana of Elk Horn, Iowa, Gayleen Rutherford and her husband, Kent of Eagle Grove, Iowa, Cory Sornson and his wife, Jennifer of Atlantic, Iowa, Nathan Sornson and his wife, Libby of Grimes, Iowa.

Great-grandchildren include Madeline Sornson, Troy and Tristan Sornson, Brenden and Rylan, Cole and Alora Sornson, Cody and Hunter Moate, Emma, Kate and Jane Sornson, Samantha, Gage and Clay Sornson, Alexis, Corey and Austin Rutherford, Karen and Rachel Sornson.

Also surviving are her sister, Elsie Weddum of Elk Horn, Iowa, and her brother, Alvin Madsen and his wife, Arlene of Grimes, Iowa, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceding Eleanor in death were her parents, Mads Jorgen and Inger Maria Peitersen Madsen, her husband, Elmer T. Sornson; a baby brother, Edmund Madsen, a brother, Edmund T. Madsen and his wife Evelyn, a brother, George Madsen; two sisters, Lydia and her husband, Alvin Mortensen, Edna and her husbands, Adolph Lange and Emery Fredericksen, a brother-in-law, Hans Weddum, a foster sister, Eda and her husband, Thorvald Hansen, and a foster brother, Nels P. Olsen and his wife, Claudine.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, November 27, 2007, at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church, Elk Horn, Iowa, with the Reverend Keith Menter officiating.

Public viewing is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m., on Monday, with the family present to greet their friends from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic.

Committal services and interment will be in the Elk Horn Lutheran Cemetery, Elk Horn, Iowa.

The family has requested that memorials go to the Elk Horn Lutheran Church, the Salem Lutheran Homes or Hospice at Myrtue Memorial Hospital, Harlan, Iowa.

Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements.