STOUGHTON - Jack Lawrence Sorensen, age 93, passed on Dec. 2, 2016 peacefully in his sleep. He was born Jan. 4, 1923 at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Chicago to Laurits and Ida Sorensen. Jack was married to Ila Mae Schutz in Chicago on Feb. 28, 1944. The couple had three children: Mark, Jan Alita, and Jay. Daughter Jan Alita died within a day of birth in 1953. Jack is survived by his wife Ila and sons Mark and Jay.
He graduated from Warren High School in 1940. A few years later in 1943 he would be inducted into the US Army. At one point in Northern France he found himself mistakenly behind enemy lines. He was compelled to keep driving towards Germany until he found a place to maneuver and turn around his large truck. When he returned to the US in 1946 he would find his potential as a businessman.
Jack would call himself a "Jack of all trades and master of none." He became a plumber in Monroe and this led to owning a hardware store called Nagel and Sorensen in Cobb. In 1955 he became a national celebrity by accident. The timing of the purchase of 32 shares of General Motors stock led him to become the company's 500,000 shareholder. Jack, Ila, and Mark were treated to a whirlwind corporate publicity tour which included travel to New York City and an appearance on Arthur Godfrey's national radio show.
Life would take another unexpected turn when a vacation to San Diego and a Travelodge stay convinced Jack to become an innkeeper. The young family would move to Florida and open a new 30-room Travelodge in Sarasota and later in Clinton, Iowa. Wisconsin would beckon him back, where he took the big step of buying his own dealership by opening Sorensen Buick and Oldsmobile in Stoughton, which was later sold before the oil crisis of the early 70s. Jack would continue to sell anything that could move and jumped into the sale of Winnebago campers and electric cars for many more years. In 1985 Jack secured a captain's license from the US Coast Guard and operated a charter fishing business at Rowley's Bay in Door County.
Retirement finally called with Jack and Ila spending time in their favorite places of Monona, Gills Rock, and Sarasota. He literally perfected his golf game during this time and received a hole-in-one certification for an amazing five times at courses in Florida and Wisconsin. Jack lived a very active life and enjoyed a quiet style of success in all his enterprises. To be certain, Ila Mae was a huge contributor in every endeavor of this endlessly entrepreneurial man, husband, and father.
Jack's family gratefully thank the staff at the Heritage Unit at Skaalen in Stoughton for their wonderful care, concern, and kindness.
Funeral services will be held at SKAALEN RETIREMENT SERVICES, 400 North Morris St., Stoughton, at 1 p.m., on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016. Visitation will be held from 12 noon until the time of service, and coffee, cake, and Jack's favorite donuts will be served after the service.
Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson Stoughton
Funeral & Cremation Care
1358 Highway 51 N. @ Jackson St.
(608) 873-4590
He graduated from Warren High School in 1940. A few years later in 1943 he would be inducted into the US Army. At one point in Northern France he found himself mistakenly behind enemy lines. He was compelled to keep driving towards Germany until he found a place to maneuver and turn around his large truck. When he returned to the US in 1946 he would find his potential as a businessman.
Jack would call himself a "Jack of all trades and master of none." He became a plumber in Monroe and this led to owning a hardware store called Nagel and Sorensen in Cobb. In 1955 he became a national celebrity by accident. The timing of the purchase of 32 shares of General Motors stock led him to become the company's 500,000 shareholder. Jack, Ila, and Mark were treated to a whirlwind corporate publicity tour which included travel to New York City and an appearance on Arthur Godfrey's national radio show.
Life would take another unexpected turn when a vacation to San Diego and a Travelodge stay convinced Jack to become an innkeeper. The young family would move to Florida and open a new 30-room Travelodge in Sarasota and later in Clinton, Iowa. Wisconsin would beckon him back, where he took the big step of buying his own dealership by opening Sorensen Buick and Oldsmobile in Stoughton, which was later sold before the oil crisis of the early 70s. Jack would continue to sell anything that could move and jumped into the sale of Winnebago campers and electric cars for many more years. In 1985 Jack secured a captain's license from the US Coast Guard and operated a charter fishing business at Rowley's Bay in Door County.
Retirement finally called with Jack and Ila spending time in their favorite places of Monona, Gills Rock, and Sarasota. He literally perfected his golf game during this time and received a hole-in-one certification for an amazing five times at courses in Florida and Wisconsin. Jack lived a very active life and enjoyed a quiet style of success in all his enterprises. To be certain, Ila Mae was a huge contributor in every endeavor of this endlessly entrepreneurial man, husband, and father.
Jack's family gratefully thank the staff at the Heritage Unit at Skaalen in Stoughton for their wonderful care, concern, and kindness.
Funeral services will be held at SKAALEN RETIREMENT SERVICES, 400 North Morris St., Stoughton, at 1 p.m., on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016. Visitation will be held from 12 noon until the time of service, and coffee, cake, and Jack's favorite donuts will be served after the service.
Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson Stoughton
Funeral & Cremation Care
1358 Highway 51 N. @ Jackson St.
(608) 873-4590