Funeral Mass for Edwin Leo Sorensen will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008, at St. Pius X Catholic Church on Saltzman Road in Cedar Mills.
Known as "Ed" to his parachute comrades, and as "Leo" to his family and friends, he died at home in Aloha on Dec. 2, 2008, after goodbyes from many loved ones.
Born June 19, 1921, to Ed and Gladys Coulter Sorensen in Astoria, he lived in a logging camp while attending Knappa High School. After attending the University of Oregon in 1939-40, he returned to his roots, the timber industry, and worked as a gyppo logger until World War II. In late 1942 he was drafted, and after basic he opted to go to parachute training. He became part of the new 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, specifically in Company "D". The outfit was sent to New Guinea in late 1944 and then was part of the Leyte Island and Manila, Luzon campaigns in the Philippines. He also participated in the rescue of 2,100 American prisoners in Los Banos, Philippines on Feb. 23, 1945.
In 1948 he married Barbara Smith. They had three children, Debbi, Ed and Erik Sorensen. They later divorced.
After the war, Leo returned to logging. He was seriously injured in 1964 when a bridge on the Salmonberry River collapsed while he was driving a caterpillar over it. He then returned to college at Portland State University and graduated in 1970. Before graduation he served in Governor McCall's office and then the Housing Authority of Oregon. Later he worked for Multnomah County.
After that, he then started an entirely new life as a manufacturing representative for "Sign of the Crab" - a fine company specializing in brass plumbing products. He often remarked that this is what he should have been doing all along. On Valentine's Day, 1976 Leo married his beloved, Eileen Moore. He is survived by Eileen; two children, Debbi and her husband, Doug, Ed and his wife, Michele; grandchildren; and a great-great grandson. His son, Erik, died in 1978 at age 20.
Leo would want all of his surviving comrades from Company "D" to be honorary pallbearers, scattered though they be.
He would like any desired remembrances to be sent to the Oregon Food Bank, to Blanchet House of Hospitality, or to their church community, Mission of the Atonement.
Gratitude is expressed to the caring personnel of Kaiser Hospice group.
Donelson, Sewell and Mathews, 503-648-3158.
Known as "Ed" to his parachute comrades, and as "Leo" to his family and friends, he died at home in Aloha on Dec. 2, 2008, after goodbyes from many loved ones.
Born June 19, 1921, to Ed and Gladys Coulter Sorensen in Astoria, he lived in a logging camp while attending Knappa High School. After attending the University of Oregon in 1939-40, he returned to his roots, the timber industry, and worked as a gyppo logger until World War II. In late 1942 he was drafted, and after basic he opted to go to parachute training. He became part of the new 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, specifically in Company "D". The outfit was sent to New Guinea in late 1944 and then was part of the Leyte Island and Manila, Luzon campaigns in the Philippines. He also participated in the rescue of 2,100 American prisoners in Los Banos, Philippines on Feb. 23, 1945.
In 1948 he married Barbara Smith. They had three children, Debbi, Ed and Erik Sorensen. They later divorced.
After the war, Leo returned to logging. He was seriously injured in 1964 when a bridge on the Salmonberry River collapsed while he was driving a caterpillar over it. He then returned to college at Portland State University and graduated in 1970. Before graduation he served in Governor McCall's office and then the Housing Authority of Oregon. Later he worked for Multnomah County.
After that, he then started an entirely new life as a manufacturing representative for "Sign of the Crab" - a fine company specializing in brass plumbing products. He often remarked that this is what he should have been doing all along. On Valentine's Day, 1976 Leo married his beloved, Eileen Moore. He is survived by Eileen; two children, Debbi and her husband, Doug, Ed and his wife, Michele; grandchildren; and a great-great grandson. His son, Erik, died in 1978 at age 20.
Leo would want all of his surviving comrades from Company "D" to be honorary pallbearers, scattered though they be.
He would like any desired remembrances to be sent to the Oregon Food Bank, to Blanchet House of Hospitality, or to their church community, Mission of the Atonement.
Gratitude is expressed to the caring personnel of Kaiser Hospice group.
Donelson, Sewell and Mathews, 503-648-3158.
Funeral Mass for Edwin Leo Sorensen will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008, at St. Pius X Catholic Church on Saltzman Road in Cedar Mills.
Known as "Ed" to his parachute comrades, and as "Leo" to his family and friends, he died at home in Aloha on Dec. 2, 2008, after goodbyes from many loved ones.
Born June 19, 1921, to Ed and Gladys Coulter Sorensen in Astoria, he lived in a logging camp while attending Knappa High School. After attending the University of Oregon in 1939-40, he returned to his roots, the timber industry, and worked as a gyppo logger until World War II. In late 1942 he was drafted, and after basic he opted to go to parachute training. He became part of the new 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, specifically in Company "D". The outfit was sent to New Guinea in late 1944 and then was part of the Leyte Island and Manila, Luzon campaigns in the Philippines. He also participated in the rescue of 2,100 American prisoners in Los Banos, Philippines on Feb. 23, 1945.
In 1948 he married Barbara Smith. They had three children, Debbi, Ed and Erik Sorensen. They later divorced.
After the war, Leo returned to logging. He was seriously injured in 1964 when a bridge on the Salmonberry River collapsed while he was driving a caterpillar over it. He then returned to college at Portland State University and graduated in 1970. Before graduation he served in Governor McCall's office and then the Housing Authority of Oregon. Later he worked for Multnomah County.
After that, he then started an entirely new life as a manufacturing representative for "Sign of the Crab" - a fine company specializing in brass plumbing products. He often remarked that this is what he should have been doing all along. On Valentine's Day, 1976 Leo married his beloved, Eileen Moore. He is survived by Eileen; two children, Debbi and her husband, Doug, Ed and his wife, Michele; grandchildren; and a great-great grandson. His son, Erik, died in 1978 at age 20.
Leo would want all of his surviving comrades from Company "D" to be honorary pallbearers, scattered though they be.
He would like any desired remembrances to be sent to the Oregon Food Bank, to Blanchet House of Hospitality, or to their church community, Mission of the Atonement.
Gratitude is expressed to the caring personnel of Kaiser Hospice group.
Donelson, Sewell and Mathews, 503-648-3158.
Known as "Ed" to his parachute comrades, and as "Leo" to his family and friends, he died at home in Aloha on Dec. 2, 2008, after goodbyes from many loved ones.
Born June 19, 1921, to Ed and Gladys Coulter Sorensen in Astoria, he lived in a logging camp while attending Knappa High School. After attending the University of Oregon in 1939-40, he returned to his roots, the timber industry, and worked as a gyppo logger until World War II. In late 1942 he was drafted, and after basic he opted to go to parachute training. He became part of the new 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, specifically in Company "D". The outfit was sent to New Guinea in late 1944 and then was part of the Leyte Island and Manila, Luzon campaigns in the Philippines. He also participated in the rescue of 2,100 American prisoners in Los Banos, Philippines on Feb. 23, 1945.
In 1948 he married Barbara Smith. They had three children, Debbi, Ed and Erik Sorensen. They later divorced.
After the war, Leo returned to logging. He was seriously injured in 1964 when a bridge on the Salmonberry River collapsed while he was driving a caterpillar over it. He then returned to college at Portland State University and graduated in 1970. Before graduation he served in Governor McCall's office and then the Housing Authority of Oregon. Later he worked for Multnomah County.
After that, he then started an entirely new life as a manufacturing representative for "Sign of the Crab" - a fine company specializing in brass plumbing products. He often remarked that this is what he should have been doing all along. On Valentine's Day, 1976 Leo married his beloved, Eileen Moore. He is survived by Eileen; two children, Debbi and her husband, Doug, Ed and his wife, Michele; grandchildren; and a great-great grandson. His son, Erik, died in 1978 at age 20.
Leo would want all of his surviving comrades from Company "D" to be honorary pallbearers, scattered though they be.
He would like any desired remembrances to be sent to the Oregon Food Bank, to Blanchet House of Hospitality, or to their church community, Mission of the Atonement.
Gratitude is expressed to the caring personnel of Kaiser Hospice group.
Donelson, Sewell and Mathews, 503-648-3158.
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