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Robert “Bob” Sorenson died Friday, Aug. 5, 2022.
Condolences can be mailed to The Sorenson Family, PO Box 2410, Sequim, Wash. 98382.
Robert “Bob” Sorenson was born in 1934 on a farm in Ihlen, Minn., to Everette and Jennie Sorenson.
Upon graduating from Pipestone High School he traveled to the Colorado Rockies to drive a logging truck. He drove big rigs throughout his life: logging trucks, semi-rigs, milk tanker trucks, dump trucks, and tour buses. Bob told us “When I tip over, I’ll be on the road again.”
Bob served his country by joining the Army, and was deployed to Okinawa, Japan. Upon returning from Japan, he resided in Colorado, working in heavy construction. Courtesy of the GI bill, he earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Forestry from Colorado State University. While in college, he joined a flying club in Fort Collins. He took lessons in a Cessna 140 which sparked his love of flying airplanes.
Bob, with his family, flew his first airplane, a Piper Tri-Pacer, from Alaska to Chicago and then to Minnesota, to visit family and friends. He and his friends flew Bob’s second airplane, a 1948 rebuilt Stinson from Boise, Idaho to Alaska. The Stinson enabled Bob and his family to enjoy Alaskan adventures.
Bob worked for the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for 21 years. He started his career in Wyoming then transferred to Anchorage, Alaska with his family in 1965. In 1969 Bob was selected as the BLM Area Manager for McGrath, Alaska and the family resided there until their return to Anchorage in 1972 when he became the BLM Chief of Land and Minerals Operations.
Bob mastered a number of building trades, including carpentry. He used these skills to build multiple houses and work on a number of other projects. He generously shared his talents with his friends, family, and non-profit organizations. In 1996 Bob moved from Anchorage, Alaska, to Sequim, Wash., where he built a home and shop buildings, and restored several vintage trucks (all painted red). Bob enjoyed and held a warm regard for the Sequim Elks Club where he volunteered on many projects, and was a lifetime member. He was Sequim Elks of the year twice. He was also an active volunteer with the Sequim Museum.
Bob loved running into an old friend or making a new one by reaching for a shared connection such as living or having worked in the same place, field or knowing the same people.
While residing in Sequim he met Arline Dailey; the two of them shared many adventures together. Bob purchased a sea boat, joined the local boating clubs, and enjoyed boating trips in Washington and nearby Canadian waters. While on land, he and Arline traveled in his 1965 Dodge 1-1/2 ton truck pulling a trailer, gathering with friends at different camp sites. A highlight of his travels accomplished over decades was an annual trip to visit friends and family scattered throughout Alaska, Arizona, Washington, Montana, Minnesota, Colorado, and Wyoming. The years with Arline were action packed and loving.
He will be missed by his friends and family who loved him very much. He is survived by his children Edward (Beverly) Sorenson and Susan Sorenson Taylor, grandchildren, Bridge Taylor and Keely Taylor, and brother Bill, sister Ann and many nieces and nephews.
Bob is preceded in death by his parents Everett and Jeannie, brother Lauren.