Mary Jane (Roepke) Sorensen

Mary Jane Sorensen, age 89, of Galva, passed away on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at Holstein Senior Living, Holstein, Iowa.  She will be laid to rest at the Galva Township East Cemetery. There will be no visitation. A Celebration of Life will be held this summer.

Mary was born July 17, 1934, in Washta, Iowa, to Dora (Carver) and William Roepke. After graduating from Buena Vista College in 1952, she became an elementary school teacher. She loved teaching students in Ida Grove, and later in Galva and Holstein. After she retired, Gordon and Mary enjoyed traveling to South Padre, Texas, during the winters.

Mary married Gordon Lawrence Sorensen in 1955 at Morning Star Church, by Washta. Gordon managed the Galva Union Elevator for 42 years. They had a long and happy marriage of 66 years until Gordon passed away in 2021 when he was 91.

Mary loved her country and enjoyed volunteering. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary since 1939. She volunteered to manage blood drives, deliver meals, and oversee voting sites. She was a member of the Galva United Methodist Church. Mary was very proud of her family—her two children, five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Diane, her daughter, graduated from Morningside College with a BSN and continues working in the medical field. Dennis, her son, graduated from Iowa State University in Aerospace Engineering and continued with a Naval career.

Surviving Mary is her son, Dennis (Suzanne) of Oak Hill, Virginia and their two children, Michael of Seattle, Washington and Kim Stepanuk of Columbia, Maryland; daughter, Diane, of Chicago, Illinois and her three sons: Daniel, Gordon and Andrew Miller, all of the St. Louis area; great-grandchildren, Annica and Owen Miller, Reagan Mary Stepanuk, and Ada Grace Sorensen. She is survived by her brother-in-law, Wendell (Mary Lou) Sorensen of Holstein, IA, and sister-in-law, Darlene Roepke of Washta, IA.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Wayne and Melvin, and sister Sarah Fuhrman.