Bessie E. Sorenson

Bessie Sorenson passed away peacefully at Burgess Health Center on Thursday, March 17, 2022 at the age of 91. Since experiencing a fall and cracking her pelvis, she had been in Elmwood Care Centre and Burgess Health Center for the past year.

A visitation will be 5:00 – 7:00 P. M. Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at the Goslar Funeral Home Chapel, Onawa, Iowa. A funeral service will be 11:00 A.M. Thursday, March 31, 2022 at the chapel with Pastor Catie Newman, officiating. A live stream of the service will be posted on the Goslar Funeral Home website with Bessie’s obituary.  Burial will follow in the Onawa Cemetery, Onawa, Iowa. Arrangements are under the direction of Goslar Funeral Home and Monuments, Onawa, Iowa.

Bessie Elma was born November 13, 1930 in Seeley township, the daughter of John and Rosetta (Sheeder) Rees. She was the youngest of eleven children. Bessie graduated from Guthrie Center High School, where she also received her teaching certificate. Bessie taught school in Guthrie Center until 1956.

Bessie and Harley Sorenson were married September 4, 1957 in Elk Point, South Dakota.

Bessie was the internal heart of Sorenson Plumbing and Heating in Onawa and kept Harley on the right track. Anyone who experienced time in their lives with or around Bessie would know she was tough as nails, and believed in honesty and hard work. She could be a little hard headed, but she would help anyone at any time if the need was there. Bessie had a huge heart within that tough outer surfacing, and a softness not everyone would see because of her ability to keep a stiff upper lip and work her way through any difficult times. She was a good woman and a great Mom!

Many residents in and around the Onawa area have had the opportunity to sit at her and Harley’s kitchen table and discuss all the issues of the world and some great jokes, many of which were not one’s that would be told in church on Sundays. For those that were fortunate to know Bessie, if she called you a friend, she would do almost anything for you. Bessie will be missed!

Bessie enjoyed word puzzles, quilting, fishing, mushroom hunting, camping, and being in the outdoors. Bessie and Harley would travel with their RV to many different places. Harley passed away December 3, 2003.

Bessie was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and a past member of the Eastern Star.

Survivors include her children, Curtis (Cheryl) Gilson of Onawa, Iowa, and Larry (Rhonda) Sorenson of Brentwood, California; grandchildren, Jamie (Darin) Luneckas, Laura (Cory) Lillesve, Megan (David Zierier) Blattspieler; five great-grandchildren, one sister, Juanita, who is currently in a nursing home in Tacoma, Washington; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Harley Sorenson; her parents, John and Rosetta (Sheeder) Rees; nine brothers and sisters, and one grandson.

Condolences may be left online for the family at www.goslarfuneralhome.com

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