Valdemar Marinus Sorensen died on December 19, 2016 In Colorado Springs, CO where he had lived for the last five years. He died as a result of complications from a fall at his residence at the age of 95 years. He was known to all as "Val" or fondly by his childhood family and friends as "Buster". He earned the nickname "Buster" from the effect his childhood cries had on nearby eardrums. Val was born on October 26, 1921 in Bushnell, Nebraska to Jens Johan Sorensen and Elizabeth Christensen Sorensen. Val's wife of 68 years, Martha Irene Sorensen died before him in April of 2016. Val met Irene at Fort Benning, Georgia where she was working when Val returned from Army service in the Pacific during World War II. Also, passing before him was Val's oldest son, Gary Dean Sorensen. In addition to his parent's, Val's older brother Paul Franklin Sorensen, and sisters Bonnie Zernikow, Dorothea Beezley, and Nancy Sorensen died before him. Val is survived by his sister, Lucy Bonnette of Cheyenne, Wyoming, his son, Cary Sorensen (spouse Bea) of Galveston Island, Texas, his daughter, Shauna Conner (spouse Butch) of Colorado Springs, Colorado and his daughter-in-law Letitia Sorensen of Rockwall, Texas. Also surviving Val are his grandchildren, Jimmy Sorensen, Eric Sorensen, Valerie Sorensen, Glenn (Karen) Sorensen, Erica (Max) Hinojosa, Matthew (Tanya) Marek, Jason Marek, Jackie (Jason) Berry, Jennifer Lara, and Tracy Stalcup. Val's great-grandchildren, Brheanna Berry, Bryleigh Berry, Blake Berry, Lauren Osika, Dylan Fussell, Michael Stalcup, Taylor Stalcup, Ethan Sorensen, Erin Sorensen, Colten Sorensen, Maximiliano Hinojosa V ("Cinco"), and Jaxson Hinojosa as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins also survive him. Val was a person of a strong, quiet faith who longed to see his wife, Irene, again. He is now in Heaven and reunited with his wife and son, parents, siblings, and friends, as well as many pets he and Irene had and cared for over the years. Although Val had been living in Colorado for the last five years to be closer to family, his heart was always in El Paso where he and Irene lived for 66 years including almost all his Army years after returning from the war. He and Irene raised three children in El Paso and he was a wonderful and caring father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. While living in Colorado for the last years of his life, he continually inquired about the weather in El Paso and pointed out to everyone how much warmer it was at his home in El Paso compared to Colorado Springs. Val retired from the United States Army at the rank of CWO3 after 22 years of service. His military career included numerous years in maintaining and operating Surface to Air Guided Missiles and involvement with the Guided Missile School at Fort Bliss, Texas. Following retirement from the Army, he began a career with Civil Service where he served in various positions including Range Control Officer at White Sands Missile Range near El Paso. Val treasured the friends he made at Park Hills Christian Church in El Paso where he and Irene were long-time members. Before his eyes failed, he enjoyed reading. Val especially enjoyed western fiction and got his sister, Lucy, hooked on Louis L'Amour books which she still reads. He spent many hours building and repairing items and was a master carpenter. Any job Val did was done with care and great pride. One of his projects included drilling holes on the back of the pews at Park Hills Christian Church to hold the communion cups. Even in his 90's as his body slowed down, Val still had great ideas about how to make their home in Colorado Springs more comfortable or how to fix something on his walker. He sent his son-in-law, Butch, to the hardware store on many occasions to secure a new tool or item to fix a problem around their home. Val and Irene enjoyed square dancing, bowling and visiting with family and friends. He and Irene always had a Dachshund or two sitting on the porch with them. One of his great joys was visits from grandchildren and great-grandchildren at their home in El Paso and the famous outings to Western Playland or the Fort Bliss Military Museum. After moving to Colorado, he received phone calls and visits from the grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was always happy to see pictures of the newest great-grandchild. Val's children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, sister, and all extended family members will remember him with love and appreciation for a long life well lived and are comforted knowing he will be met with joy by all those he loved who are waiting on the other shore. A memorial service, with military honors, for Valdemar M. Sorensen, CWO 3, U.S. Army Retired, will be held at 3:00 pm on Saturday, February 25, 2017 at Park Hills Christian Church, 5701 Alabama Street, El Paso, TX 79904, with a reception following the service. As he wished, the interment of Val's remains will be completed at a later date in Headland, Alabama. He will be buried with his wife, Irene, and son, Gary, in the cemetery at the Concord Baptist Church where Irene attended church as a child. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in Val's honor and memory to Park Hills Christian Church.