John Mark Sorensen

Obituary for John Mark Sorensen
John Mark Sorensen, former Logan resident and USU librarian, died in Salt Lake City on June 21, 2008. He was born on June 9, 1934, the son of USU professor of English Alma N. Sorensen and Mary Carlisle Sorensen. He attended Logan schools and graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in English in 1956. At USU he was very active in student affairs, served on the Student Council, and was elected president of the USU chapter of Sigma Chi Fraternity.
After completing three years of military service, Mark left the U.S.
Air Force with the rank of Captain and returned to Logan to complete a Master's Degree in English. He taught in the USU English Department and completed additional graduate studies at UC-Berkeley and the University of Utah. He later became the Humanities and Arts Librarian at USU. In addition, Mark also completed a Master's of Library Science Degree at Brigham Young University and post graduate studies at Idaho State University. For five years he worked as a Technical Editor at Morton Thiokol. He retired as a librarian at the Murray City Library. He is listed among the "Friends of the Library" on a special plaque at the USU Merrill Library.
He married Roberta Stearman in 1960. They had two children, Jennifer and Meridith, and four grandchildren.
He later married LaRae Mickelsen on May 18, 1996. They met at Sam Weller's Bookstore in Salt Lake City. For the remainder of his life, he was a close companion and friend to LaRae and her children and grandchildren. They traveled together often to all parts of the West.
Mark loved the great English writers and poets and quoted their works liberally in his own writing and conversation. His grandfather, lzaac Sorensen, was one of the founders of Mendon. He is the author of a wellknown history of Mendon. Mark also had a great interest in history and his large library contained many books on Utah and the West. He was a gifted poet with particular love for Cache Valley and USU, as expressed below:
One November day I walked alone east across the quad
The day was bright with early winter sun, warm across my back Maples still in full leaf reflected tints from green to gold
A harmony of colored silence in this chapel on the hill
As a sparrow flashes through the light piercing a valley barn
I passed through this cove of green and gold and walked on

Mark was a cheerful and loving father, brother, and friend. He gave unfailing help and support to his family, his friends, and anyone in need. He adopted and tenderly cared for dozens of abandoned dogs and cats and loved them as family members. He lived a life full of optimism and good humor. He was a joy to be with and will be greatly missed.
He is survived by his wife, LaRae, his children Jennifer (Kevin) Sorensen and Meridith (Scott) Kirkwood; his grandchildren (Katherine, Jacqueline, Christopher, and Nicholas), and his brothers Robert and Philip.
Friends and family will gather at Allen-Hall Mortuary in Logan on Friday, June 27, from 10:30 to 11:30 am. Interment will follow at the Logan Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenmortuaries.net . Donations can be made in Mark's memory to the Humane Society of Utah at www.humane.org