San Bernardino County Obituaries

Redlands Daily Facts Newspaper; Submitted by Peggy Hooper

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Frank Sorenson, 83
Article Launched: 02/26/2008 10:35:23 AM PST


J. Frank Sorenson, founder of Sorenson Engineering in Yucaipa and a longtime resident of Redlands, 
died Feb. 22, following a long illness. He was 83. 

He was born Feb. 26, 1925, at home in Port Orchard, Wash., and grew up in Long Beach, graduating 
from Long Beach Poly High School. 

During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army in the Pacific from 1943 to 1945. 

Following his military service, he pursued his lifelong passion for precision machining and was 
instrumental in founding the PaperMate pen company in the early 1950s. 

In 1956 he founded Sorenson Engineering, which rapidly expanded and became internationally 
recognized for its leadership in innovative micro-machining technologies. 

He realized a lifelong dream of becoming an aircraft pilot when he made his first solo flight in 
1964. For many years he flew mercy missions to Mexico for Christian Wings, delivering doctors, 
nurses and supplies and providing air ambulance services to and from villages in Mexico. 

He was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church in Highland. 

He had lived in Redlands for about 25 years before moving to Sun Lakes Country Club in Banning 
four years ago. 

Survivors include his wife Norma "Brandi" Sorenson; his sons David Sorenson and wife Callene 
and Steven Sorenson and wife Terri, all of Redlands; daughter Rebecca Sorenson of Cypress; 
grandchildren Marie Turner, Phillip Howey, Andee Sorenson, Kristen Dean, Tracee Thibodeau, 


Stefanie Sorenson, Scott Sorenson, Sarah Banker and Hilaree Sorenson; and great-grandchildren 
Katharine, Lauren, Andrew, Isabella and Leila. He is also survived by sisters Ecco Ochoa of Santa 
Barbara and Wanda Gayer of Lake Forest; brother Dale Sorenson of Santa Barbara; and his first 
wife, Joyce Ahrens of Banning. 

Visitation is 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27, and services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, 
both at Emmerson-Bartlett Memorial Chapel, 703 Brookside Ave., Redlands.