Henning M. Sorensen

 

On Saturday, February 16, Henning Sorensen, loving husband and father, died at

the age of 91.  Henning was born on April 15, 1927 in Denmark to Jens and Kirstine

Sorensen. The oldest of three children, the family included his brother Erling and

sister Lis. Henning worked on the family farm in Paarup for much of his early life. He

decided to move to the United States, and was accepted into a farm exchange

program that would begin in the fall of 1953. In the summer of 1953, while waiting

to travel to the U.S., Henning worked in Sweden and met the love of his life, Kerstin

Larsson, in her home town of Rostanga.

The farm exchange program sent Henning to LaOtto on the farm of Bud Bryan.

When the program ended, he returned to Paarup and the family farm. In April of

1955, Henning returned to the United States permanently, working in LaOtto for

 

Lynn Harlan.  On August 10, 1957, he and Kerstin, who had followed her love to

Indiana, married in Chicago.

Henning started his own business in 1968, Henning’s Plumbing & Heating, in LaOtto.

The business grew and thrived over the years.  Although Henning would never talk

about it, former customers would often share that he would provide services even

when he knew that payment would never come.

Henning had a tremendous work ethic and had many other business projects in

addition to his primary business.  A traditional man, he was focused on providing for

Kerstin and their four children, Jens, Lars, Nina and Lena. Jens now owns and runs

the business.

One of Henning’s passions was flying. A private pilot for many years, he loved flying

his Cessna 150 from the grass airstrip in LaOtto.  It was a proud moment for him

when Lena also got her license and joined him in the Cessna.

Henning’s family discovered another side of him when Henning found himself in the

role of caretaker to his wife. Having been cared for by Kerstin for most of his

married life, Henning took on that role for Kerstin when dementia took those

abilities from her. They stayed in their home in LaOtto as long as they could,

moving to an apartment in the Towne House Retirement Community in Fort Wayne

in 2017, with Kerstin moving into the memory care unit last year.

Henning is survived by his wife, Kerstin, brother, Erling, and his children and their

spouses, Jens Sorensen, Lars and Dominique Sorensen, Nina Sorensen and Dennis

Schoff, and Lena Yarian.  Henning was the proud grandfather of six grandchildren,

Kat and Maggie Schoff, Spencer and Brittmarie Yarian, and Tyler and Nicolette

Sorensen.  In addition to Erling, Henning had many family members in Denmark

who were very special to him. 

In his final months and days, Henning received great care from the nurses and aides

at the Towne House and by the nurses of Heartland Hospice, and his family wishes

to express their appreciation and gratitude for all those wonderful people.  Per

Henning’s request, no services will take place.

 

Thomas Funeral Home entrusted with the arrangements.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Henning M. Sorensen, please visit our floral store.