J Glenn Sorensen

James Glenn Sorensen, age 88 of Mesa, Arizona passed away 11/3/2024 Glenn was born October 23, 1936, in Butte, Nebraska, the son of William H. Sorensen and Frieda Stroh Sorensen.

Glenn is preceded in death by his parents and his first wife Marilyn DeLosh in 1990. His brother William Allan Sorensen and sister-in-law, Delores Marie McHugh Sorensen passed earlier this year. A stepson Dennis E. Wharton has also preceded him in death.

Glenn is survived by his beloved wife Nellie Landis Wharton Sorensen whom he married in 1993. He is survived by two children, Chris A. Sorensen, Mesa, AZ and Lisa J. Sorensen, Beaverton, Oregon. A sister, Nancy Bjorgo, Ontario, Canada and nephew Wade Sorensen (Corrine). He also leaves behind the love of his life, his grandchildren, Ashley Wharton Wheeler (Justin) and great grandchildren Indy, Gunnar, & Brooklyn. Grandson Derek R Wharton (Emily), and his great granddaughter Madilyn. Grandson Zachary T Wharton and daughter-in-law Cindy Wharton.

Glenn graduated from Bristow High School in 1954 as Valedictorian then went on to Wayne State College in Nebraska, graduating with High Honors. While there he belonged to the Pi Omega Pi and Epsilon Pi Tau fraternities. In 1959, he earned his master's from Northern Colorado and later finished the PhD program from Arizona State University in 1981.

Glenn was a devoted teacher and educator. His career in education covered many facets of education, teacher, counselor, principal, and superintendent, Education Specialist, Program Development and Legislation, Secretarial Task Force, Department of Interior, and Native American Consultants, Inc. He started at the age of 17, teaching in a ranch school in Holt County, Nebraska. It was a K-12 one room school and held great, fond memories for him. His career in education with the Bureau of Indian Affairs placed him in Sacaton, AZ, Fort Apache, AZ, Flandreau, SD, Ramah, NM, Fort Yates, ND, Blackbear Residential Dormitories, Browning, MT, Intermountain School, Brigham City, UT.

His career led him to be a Professor at Brandon University in Brandon, Canada after which he was Superintendent at West Yellowstone, MT, Tri-Cities, WA and North River School District, WA. He retired from his educational journey as Assistant Superintendent from Page Unified School District, Page, AZ in 2001.

In 2013 he moved from Flagstaff, AZ to Verde Santa Fe, Cornville, AZ. He was a baptized member at Verde Community Church, Cottonwood, AZ. In April 2021 he and his beloved wife moved to Mesa to be near family.

The Celebration of Life will be held for Glenn on Saturday, November 23, 2024 at 11 am. It will be held in the Mesa Verde Room in Sunland Village East, 2615 S. Farnsworth Drive, Mesa, AZ.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Alzheimer's Association and/or the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.