Jerry Sorensen

Jerry S. Sorensen, 78, passed away Monday, February 10, 2014, at the Heritage House in Atlantic, Iowa.

Jerry Sterling Sorensen was born at 6:30 a.m., Sunday, March 24, 1935, the son of Sterling Alvin Sorensen and Dorothy Opal (Suplee) Sorensen.

He grew up on a farm east of Anita, Iowa, and graduated from Anita High School with the class of 1953. Jerry served in the military for three years. Upon returning home, he married Elizabeth Jane Carrick. To this union two children were born, Sterling Charles, December 1960 and Audrey Marie, December 1963. Jerry was united in marriage to Ramona Glassford on June 12, 1971.

Throughout his employment years, he worked on a family farm, was Gandy Dancer for the railroad, helped his dad build two apartment houses in Anita, had several jobs in Omaha and started a janitorial service. Jerry and his family then moved to Colorado and was a machinist rebuilding car engines and a paint contractor building bowling alleys. He later was promoted to supervisor for a construction company which entailed constant traveling, then went on to build restaurant chains.

His true joy was working with Bill Levine in building several restaurants and mini warehouses throughout the United States and Mexico. Jerry and Ramona retired in June 1995. They moved back to Jerry's hometown of Anita. In the course of their 42 year marriage they moved 10 times.

Surviving Jerry are his wife Ramona; son, Sterling; and daughter, Audrey (Kelly) Cullen; grandchildren, Caitlin, Sam, April, Michael and Andrew; three great-grandchildren; three step-sisters, Carolyn (Michael) Easton, Julianne (Eugene) Topolewski and Nancy Eilts.

Preceding Jerry in death were his mother, Dorothy (Sorensen) Eilts; his father, Sterling; his step-father, Albert Eilts; and step-daughter, Tessa.

Visitation will be from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 12, 2014, at the United Methodist Church in Anita, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, February 13, 2014, at the United Methodist Church in Anita.

Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery, Anita, Iowa, following the lunch in the church fellowship hall.