Services
Obituary
Wilbur Hans Sorenson, 85, of Rochester, Minnesota, passed away Friday, January 9, 2004, at Samaritan Bethany Heights Care Center in Rochester.
Wilbur was born June 14, 1918, on the family farm southwest of Crystal Lake, Iowa. He was the first son of Albert and Carrie (King) Sorenson. Wilbur graduated from Crystal Lake High School in May 1936. Wilbur and his brother Maynard took over the family farming operation following their father's illness in 1936.
In June 1942, Wilbur received his notice of the draft for the service in the Armed Forces of the United States. The Department of War stationed Wilbur on the Army post in Fort Knox, Kentucky, from July 1942 until February 1944. During this period, Wilbur finished his basic training and was Driving Instructor of Tanks and Wheeled Vehicles. He attained the rank of Corporal there.
In February 1944, he transferred to Fort Ord, California. There, the battalion he was in formed the 727th Amphibian Tractor Battalion. This unit was shipped to the Pacific Theater of action during World War II. This unit saw involvement in various combat actions. Wilbur was awarded four Bronze Battle Stars representing his involvement in four different invasions, which were the battles of East Indies, New Guinea, Leyte Island in the Southern Philippines, and Luzon Island, Philippine Islands.
He also received a Bronze Arrowhead representing the first wave invasion of the island of Brunei, off the northeast coast of Borneo, in the South Pacific. In July 1945, the unit heard from their commander that they would be the first and the second waves of the invasion of the Island of Honshu, Tokto Bay, Japan. Anticipated casualties of the first and second waves were expected to be 100%, with the third wave of the invasion expected to be 80% casualties.
While enroute to Japan, they heard over a short wave radio from London that the United States dropped atomic bombs on two Japanese cities. A few days later, the peace treaty was signed and the invasion was not necessary. Wilbur received his honorable discharged in December 1945. He then returned to the family farm in Iowa.
On December 21, 1947, Wilbur and Arleen Zingg were married in the West Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Leland, Iowa. They lived on the family farm near Crystal Lake that was homesteaded in 1878, by his grandparents. In the summer of 1978, the State of Iowa designated Wilbur and Arleen's farm as a Century Farm.
Besides farming, Wilbur delivered motor homes for Winnebago Industries, Inc., Forest City, Iowa, from February 1972 until February of 1990.
Wilbur was a life long member of the United Methodist Church in Crystal Lake, Iowa and a 55-year member of the James Rasmussen American Legion Post 409 also in Crystal Lake, Iowa.
Wilbur is survived by his wife, Arleen L. Sorenson of Rochester, Minnesota; two sons Dean A. Sorenson of Dallas, Texas and Terry L. Sorenson of Rochester, Minnesota; five grandchildren: Sheila Verts and her husband, Drew of Las Vegas, Nevada; Linda Anderson of Oceanside, California, Katie and Stephanie Sorenson of Seattle, Washington, and Nathan Sorenson of Rochester, Minnesota; son-in-law Jerry Anderson of Britt, Iowa; sister-in-law Ellen Sorenson of Woden, Iowa; brothers-in-law Dale and Arlin Zingg of Leland, Iowa; sisters Ruth Charlson of Golden Valley, Minnesota, and Mavis Holt of Cottage Grove, Oregon; and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter LeAnn Anderson, his brother Maynard Sorenson, and his sister Lois Otis and her husband Mervin Otis.