John Arthur Sorensen was born June 2, 1940 to Art and Lenore Sorensen in St. Paul, Minnesota.

John spent youthful summers with relatives on North Dakota farms, roaming the prairies with his siblings and cousins. John regarded that prairie as his spiritual home. He memorialized those days in "Prairie Poem" (Holy Cow Press, 2013).

John graduated from St. Paul Central High School and Augsburg College. He married Karen Johnson. They lived in Minneapolis where they raised sons David, James, and Jeffrey.

John's roles in his long career at Augsburg Publishing House ranged from reporter for The Lutheran Standard to curriculum managing editor. His Augsburg colleagues may smile to learn that, shortly before his death, after a social worker asked him questions and filled out forms, John asked to see what she'd written – then handed the paperwork back to her with grammatical errors corrected.

John married Cyndy Klinksiek in 1980. While they lived in Uptown Minneapolis, John volunteered at the neighborhood newspaper and enjoyed sailing on Lake Calhoun.

Cyndy and John enjoyed trips to the Boundary Waters and camping on the shores of Lake Superior. They later moved to the Duluth hillside.

John served on boards of Lake Superior Marine Museum, Duluth Poet Laureate Project, and Sacred Heart Music Center.

John is survived by siblings Mary, Ruth (Dick), Jim (Cheryl); sons David (Monica), James (Gina), and Jeffrey (Elaine); grandchildren Izzie, Kai, and Ethan; cousin Suzanne, and nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held May 15 at 1:00 in the chapel at Benedictine Health Center, 935 Kenwood Avenue on the St. Scholastica campus. Carpooling is encouraged.

As you remember John, please know that these are places that mattered to him: Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Duluth, where he was a member; Benedictine Adult Day Service, where he entertained the group with wit and humor; and the Memory Café program of Volunteer Services of Carlton County.