Marion Lee Sorensen

Marion Lee Sorensen, the son of Viggo and Blanche (Bicking) Sorensen, was born May 10, 1932, in rural Bridgewater, Iowa and died November 5, 2020, at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa at the age of 88 years, 5 months, and 25 days.

Marion was baptized at the First Baptist Church in Cumberland, Iowa. He attended rural schools in the Bridgewater area then helped operate the family farm.

On September 20, 1952, he was united in marriage to Dolores Mercer at the Anita Baptist Church in Anita, Iowa. They were blessed with three children: Karen, Kevin, and Kathy. Marion worked for several area farmers, then in 1956, they purchased a farm in Adams County near Corning, Iowa. He grew row crops and raised and trucked livestock for years. Later, in 1974, Marion started and developed his own grain elevator business. He successfully operated the business for many years and sold it in 2006. Marion drove grain trucks for several years until he had to retire due to his health issues. Marion and Dolores lived on their farm until they moved to the Exira Care Center in August of 2016.

Marion was a long-time member of the First Baptist Church in Cumberland, Iowa. Marion and Dolores enjoyed traveling to and spending time in Branson, Missouri and Lake Okoboji, Iowa.

Preceding him in death were his infant grandson, Jonathon Sheldahl; his parents; his brother-in-law, Gerald Waltz; his niece, Jill Reichenauer; and his infant nephew, Todd Brower.

Survivors include his wife, Dolores Sorensen of Exira, Iowa; his children: Karen and husband Mike Hays of Tempe, Arizona; Kevin and wife Karla Sorensen of Corning, Iowa; and Kathy and husband David Sheldahl of Arlington, Nebraska; his grandchildren: Christina and husband Steve Perry of Phoenix, Arizona; Cassie Hays of Tempe, Arizona; Trent and wife Ashlee Sorensen of Johnston, Iowa; Tori Sorensen of Kansas City, Missouri; Trevor and wife Hattie Sorensen of Redfield, Iowa; Laura and husband Josh Gloeb of Kennard, Nebraska; and Katie and husband Drew Stanley of Everly, Iowa; 11 great-grandchildren; his sisters and brother: Ruth and husband Alan Stevens of Oakland, Iowa; Janet and husband David Brower of Omaha, Nebraska; and Roger and wife Sharon Sorensen of Corning, Iowa; his sisters-in-law: Mary Barton of Las Vegas, Nevada; Jean and husband Bob Irwin of Bellevue, Nebraska; and Jane Waltz of Independence, Missouri; as well as nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Michael Martin on Tuesday morning, November 10, 2020, at 11:00 A.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, Iowa. Interment will be at the Newlons Grove Cemetery southwest of Cumberland, Iowa at 2:00 P.M. The family will meet with friends from 10:00 A.M. until the time of the service Tuesday morning, November 10, 2020, at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, Iowa. The casket bearers will be Trent and Ashlee Sorensen, Tori Sorensen, Trevor and Hattie Sorensen, Laura and Josh Gloeb, Katie and Drew Stanley, Christina Perry, and Cassie Hays.

The funeral service will be livestreamed on KESSLER FUNERAL HOMES INC. Facebook page. To get there, log into your Facebook account (you will need one to view the service), search for and navigate to the KESSLER FUNERAL HOMES INC. Facebook page, and at the time the service goes live, it will populate in the timeline. You may also scroll to the bottom of our homepage at www.kesslerfuneralhomes.com page and click the Facebook logo to be taken directly to our page. If you experience difficulties viewing the broadcast at the time of the service, the recording will remain on our Facebook page for additional viewing opportunities.