Emil Selnor Sorensen Jr.

STILLWATER -- To God he is known as Emil Selnor Sorensen Jr. His parents and relatives, called him Junior. His wife, Val, of 70 years, called him "my sweetheart." He was Daddy and Dad to his children, Maren, Paul and Mark, and Emil to daughters-in-law, Anita and Lena, and son-in-law, Glenn. His grandchildren, Mia, Rachel, Dane, Anna and Julia, called him Grandpa, and Grandpa Emil to his great-grandchildren, Johannah, Ava and Claire. His nieces and nephews considered him like a surrogate father, adviser and mentor.

To his childhood and adult friends, he was the jokester, debater; a friend for life, an honest and moral man. His Upsala College friends depicted him as Little Caesar on a soapbox and elected him class president, only later to become vice president of the Upsala Extension in Sussex County.

To the Army, serving under Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower and assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, he was a counterintelligence World War II hunter of Hitler war criminals before and during the Nuremburg Trials.

To his in-laws, he was the right guy for their feisty blonde-haired, blue-eyed daughter, Valnette. After they married, they moved from Philadelphia to Richmond to Sparta -- having a child in each location.

To some of his children's friends, he was their adviser, employer and supporter in obtaining scholarships to further their education.

To the residents of Sparta, he was known as a small business owner, the township councilman and mayor who paved the way for a growing community to expand the school system, encouraged talented people to run for Township Council, and moved the township to a manager form of government.

To the citizens of Sussex County, he was known as a fair and honest freeholder who led the various county departments in expanding government services, such as building the juvenile detention center, building the vocational school and again bringing in talented people to administer those programs.

To people with whom he had conflicting viewpoints, he was able to break the tension in his relationship with them through his humor.

The federal government considered him the spoiler. He was appointed by Gov. William T. Cahill to head a committee to investigate the federal government's Tocks Island proposal to build a dam on the Delaware River, which would flood one of the most beautiful parts of Sussex County. When the committee presented its report to the governor, the cost was so prohibitive that the governors of three states convinced the federal government to change its plans from a dam to a park.

To the state government, he was the "country bumpkin" who could be sold on the idea of building an international airport by flatting mountains in the county. Emil formed a committee of experts to determine how much tonnage of dirt had to be hauled away and the cost and how much noise pollution from the jets. During the presentation the presenters were asked about the cost and the noise pollution. When they couldn't answer the questions, Emil's committee responded with the answer and a recording of jets taking off and landing. The plan was defeated.

To the residents of Stillwater, where Emil and Val moved after retiring, he was the questioner. He attended Township Committee meetings and questioned, debated their actions, later ran for office and became mayor. At that time, he was known for holding the record of being mayor of two local towns during his lifetime.

To people seeking office, he was their adviser and mentor, introducing them to the voting public, advising them on their platforms, and who they should seek as their supporters. He encouraged people to volunteer or run for various committees and political positions.

His other public service included being a member of Rotary, SCARC, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Stillwater Historical Society and serving on the Tax Board.

To members of his beloved church, he was the elder. He taught Sunday school to the teenagers, served on the building committee charged with building the new church and parsonage, and brought forth his wisdom to settle controversy over trivial as well as major issues. Because of his leadership, he became president of the congregation and served on the church council. He emceed many church functions and celebrations of the church and church members.

Emil, baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith, always made God the center of his life that was reflected in his communing with family, friends, church, community and country. It was so fitting for God to choose to bring him home on Maundy Thursday, March 29, 2018, during the holiest week of the year.

To celebrate his life, a memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 19, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 37 Newton Sparta Road, Newton. Family will be receiving condolences from 11 a.m. to noon, followed by a service at noon. A reception will be held for all who attend in the Fellowship Hall at the church following the service.

Interment will be at 10 a.m. Monday, May 21, at Northern New Jersey Veterans Memorial Cemetery 75 N. Church Road, Sparta.