Melvin J. Sorenson, a long-time resident of Wheaton, passed away on January 8, 2017 at age eighty-nine. He grew up in Aurora and graduated from the University of Illinois where he met Jane, whom he adored during fifty-three years of marriage until her death in 2001. After graduation in 1948, the couple moved to Denver, Colorado, where Mel began his career in general management, finance, and marketing.
After several years in Colorado, Mel was one of only ten people chosen for a five-year management training program at R.R. Donnelley & Sons in Chicago—then the largest printer in the world with 5,000 employees. Four years later, he discovered the truth about Jesus Christ at a Billy Graham meeting and became a Jesus follower. Three years after that, he served as vice-president and publisher of Christian Life Magazine in Wheaton. Later positions include: General Manager of Compassion, Vice President of Acme Press in Chicago, Director of Finance and Development for Bibles for the World, General Manager (Publisher function) of Christianity Today magazine, Publisher of Eternity magazine, President of Fulco Midwest (computer service for magazine publishers), and Vice-President of Fulco Inc.
Mel served on various Boards including Compassion, World Relief, National Association of Christian Schools, Manna Bible Institute, Evangelical Literature Overseas, Christian Life Missions, and Wheaton Christian Grammar School. He participated in meetings that led to the establishment of Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability that promotes high standards for fiscal responsibility/accountability.
Mel and Jane traveled extensively in Asia, Africa, and South America, visiting sponsored children and the mission programs of organizations for which Mel served. They also visited Europe and Scandinavia and enjoyed periodic visits to Colorado where they introduced many friends to a small store in Victor that served great milkshakes!
After Jane passed away, Mel enjoyed the company of numerous new and old friends of all ages, especially the college students attending Immanuel Presbyterian Church. Many of his friends enjoyed his famous waffle breakfasts and accompanied him on trips into Chicago to attend symphony concerts. He made prayer and Bible study core priorities and loved to go pheasant hunting with his close friend, Dick Cook, of Wheaton.
One of Mel's key attributes was perseverance in business as well his home life. He was highly committed to managing care for his disabled daughter, Linda, who died in 2013 at age fifty-nine. He was also the primary caregiver for Jane when the progress of her cancer required hospice care.
Mel is survived by his son and his wife, a granddaughter and her husband, Jane's two sisters and one brother, and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Warrenville, Illinois at 11:00 a.m. on January 21.
The family suggests that memorial gifts be directed to Compassion's Unsponsored Children's Fund or the college ministry of Immanuel Presbyterian Church.