Wayne  Sorenson

CLERGY
Rev. David Wildermuth
MUSIC
Pianist ~ Marilyn Nyburg
Congregational Hymns
“I Love to Tell the Story”
“I Know that My Redeemer Lives”
“In the Garden”
“Old Rugged Cross”
CASKETBEARERS
Corey Sorenson
Riley Sorenson
Bradey Sorenson
Randy Bierle
Rod Deacon
Bill Sees
Wayne W. Sorenson was born on Thursday, June 7, 1934 to Melvin and Esther (Wenzel) Sorenson in Utica, South Dakota. He attended school until the 8th grade at which time he left to farm with his father. At 16, Wayne drove heavy construction machinery and worked on building the dam until he enlisted in the United States Army where he drove generals and earned his GED. On December 29, 1959, Wayne was united in marriage to Alice Bierle and three children were born to this union: Sandi, Curtis, and Sheila. Together they moved to Olivet where they worked a dairy farm. For a time, Wayne drove trucks for Drotzmann Trucking until he started his own trucking company, Sorenson Trucking. He also operated a Champlin service station and Yankton Truck Repair. Later, he earned a teaching degree at Springfield Teacher’s College and moved to Rapid City to teach truck and diesel mechanics and truck driving at Western Dakota Votech. On January 6, 1981, Wayne was united in marriage to Cecilia Drotzmann in Rapid City and Sarah was born to this union. His teaching was very successful, and the Truck and Diesel Program which he created at Votech became nationally recognized and his trucking program was adopted. To help his father farm, Wayne and Cecilia moved back to the area where he started Parkston Pork. He continued to farm with his father and custom farm in the Mayfield area for several years. Wayne enjoyed his time at Archie’s where he played pool and endured many ribbings from friends as to how many close calls he could finagle out of. After retiring from farming, he and Cecilia started American Truck Driving Academy. He was a man who was happiest when busiest.
Wayne died on Monday, September 8, 2014 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton having attained the age of 80 years, 3 months, and 2 days.
He is survived by his wife, Cecilia Sorenson of Yankton, SD; four children: Sandi (Glenn) Lineback of Hills, MN, Curtis (Vicky) Sorenson of Yankton, Sheila (Dennis) Beaner of Yankton, and Sarah (Randy) Waring of Omaha, NE; two step-sons: David (Kem) Drotzman of Hermiston, OR  and Chris (Jana) Drotzmann of Portland, OR; grandchildren: Stephanie, Casey, Corey, Ashley (Karl), Riley, Bradey, Gavin, Abi, Connor, Natalie, Tyler, Andrew, Quinn, and another on the way; three great-grandchildren; his mother, Esther Sorenson of Yankton; and sister, Naomi (Arnold) Bierle of Yankton.
He is preceded in death by his first wife, Alice in 1979, his father, Melvin, his infant brother, Duane, and a grandchild, Dustin.
Memorials may be directed to Meals on Wheels or another charity.