Obituary of Retired Captain Elmer Sorensen

Captain Elmer Sorensen, USCG (Ret) died May 5, 2010 at his home in The Villages, Florida after suffering a long term illness. Elmer was born in Sheybogen, Wisconsin on October 23, 1940. He was predeceased by his parents, Elmer and Dorothea Sorensen. He is survived by his wife, Linda Sue Williams Sorensen, sons Donald of West Virginia, and Robert and his wife Jodi of Virginia. He also leaves two grandsons, Robbie and Ryan of Virginia and his sisters Sue Maedke of Algoma, Wisconsin and Lynn Rasmussen of Stevens Point, Wisconsin. His mother-in-law is Melva Williams of The Villages. He graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy, New London, Connecticut in 1962 with a BS in Engineering. He also received a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois. Upon graduation from the USCG Academy he served as a Deck Watch Officer in the USCG Cutter Rockaway. Additional assignments included district staff civil engineering in Honolulu, Seattle, and Juneau. He also served at the Coast Guard Air Station, Elizabeth City, NC and as Executive Officer of the Coast Guard facility in Kodiak, Alaska. His career also included Chief of Personnel for the Coast Guard district in Juneau and District Chief of Engineering in St. Louis where he retired in 1986 as a Captain. During his Coast Guard career he was awarded a Coast Guard Commendation Medal and a Coast Guard Achievement Medal. Following his Coast Guard career he worked as a civil engineer for the State of Alaska and retired again in 2001. Elmer enjoyed boating, hunting, fishing, square dancing, golf, and was very active in Rotary International and the Masons. He was a Past Master of his Lodge. Funeral and internment was in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. A Memorial Service will be held at Hiers-Baxley Funeral Home, The Villages, Florida at 3pm on Sunday, May 23 with the family receiving guests at 2 PM. The Reverend Doctor Ronald Mansdoefer will officiate. The family requests gifts in lieu of flowers to UF Interstitial Lung Disease Program, UF College of Medicine, University of Florida, 1600 SW Archer Road, P.O. Box 100225, JHMHC, Gainesville, Florida 326120-0225, or to the family for a Memorial Bench in The Villages.