Donald Sorensen

Donald Duane Sorensen, age 86, of Coon Rapids, IA, passed away on Monday, May 11, 2020 at his home in Coon Rapids surrounded by his family.

A private family funeral service will be held on Monday, May 18, 2020 at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Coon Rapids with Rev. Joyce Webb of the First United Methodist Church officiating.

A public graveside service will be held at the Orange Township Cemetery south of Coon Rapids at 1:30 P.M. on Monday with military honors by the Coon Rapids American Legion.  Casket bearers will be Don’s family.  Those in attendance at the cemetery are asked to abide by Covid-19 social distancing guidelines.

Those who wish may mail memorials to: The family of Donald Sorensen c/o Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home, 518 Main St., Coon Rapids, Iowa  50058

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Coon Rapids and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com

Don was born on July 6, 1933 in Guthrie County, IA, and was the son of Paul and Gwen (Pearson) Sorensen.  He grew up on a farm south of Coon Rapids and attended country school as a boy.  Don graduated from Coon Rapids High School in 1951 and worked construction and a few other jobs.  He was married to Donna Bower on November 14, 1954 at the First United Methodist Church in Coon Rapids.  To this union three children were born: Doug, Teri, and Jodi.  After their marriage, Don was in the U.S. Army from 1955 – 1957 with the 101 ^st Airborne Division serving 16 months in Germany.  In 1958 they moved to the family farm seven and a half miles south of Coon Rapids in Guthrie County where Don was a livestock and grain farmer.  Along with farming, Don also had jobs working at the Oscar Meyer Pork Plant in Perry and for The Garst Company.

After moving to their home in Coon Rapids in 1994, farming was still Don’s passion.  He always kept up with what was happening out on the farm.  Don was a hard worker all of his life.  He enjoyed playing cards, spending time with his family and friends, working on his tractors and rental houses, going to cattle sales, and touring the rural countryside.  Don was a member of the Coon Rapids American Legion and the First United Methodist Church.  He was also involved in the Old Carrollton Heritage Club.

Don is survived by his two daughters: Teri (Jeff) Ford of Jefferson and Jodi (Dave) Hoffman of Audubon, his grandchildren: Jennifer Oakes of Churdan, James (Mindy) Ford and Joshua Ford of Jefferson, Chris Hoffman and his fiancée Christen Yaw of Ames; his great-grandchildren: Lucas and Lauren Oakes, Tucker Ford, Spencer and Carter Semke; his sister Juan (Ed) Wheeler of Newton; sisters-in-law Carla Sorensen of Lame Deer, MT, Juanita Shaffer of Cheyenne, WY, Gloria Zabukover of Colorado Springs, CO, and Patti Bower of Fort Dodge as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Don was preceded in death by his parents Paul and Gwen Sorenesen, his wife Donna of 64 years, infant son Douglas, sister Edna Mae (LeRoy) Madsen, brother Bob Sorensen, mother and father-in-law Ethel and Warren Bower, brothers-in-law Maurice Bower, Richard (Jeanne) Bower, Jerry Bower and Jim Zabukover; sisters-in-law Pauline (Wilbur) Herron, Phyllis (Bill) Mozena and Bernadine Anderson, and his nephew Michael Wheeler.