VAGN SORENSEN
Our Vagn left us, suddenly, on November 26th.
He was 86 years of age.
His beloved wife Ruth died on July 22nd, 2010. He was also predeceased by his parents Ema and Magnus, brother Egon, sister Biten (all of Denmark) and granddaughter Brenda.
Vagn is survived by children Gary (Cathy) Sorensen, Bonnie Carmichael, Shirley Fortune and Noreen Taylor.
Grandchildren are Jake, Tim (Jordana), Rebecca (Max), Ryan (Sara), Lise (Dave), Karen (Allan), David (Geetha) and Larry (Elviera), Adrien (Bob), Cliff (Laura) and Bradley (Tracy). Also brother in law Roy (Lourdes) Harris and sister Trina (Ray) Bowers and many great grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews, and close friends.
Vagn started work in his father’s cabinet shop in Denmark. He served in the Danish Army after WW2 and immigrated to Canada in the late 1940’s. His first job was in Ontario on a farm as a labourer. He then worked as carpenter in Kitimat on the Alcan project.
Subsequently, he moved to Victoria and met and married Ruth. He worked very hard as a carpenter, supervisor and project manager in the construction industry throughout the 1950’s. He worked for various small contractors as a carpenter at first. Later he partnered with Ray Bowers to form Sorensen and Bowers. Their first major job was the Begbie apartments. After that they built Macaulay, Olympic View and Blue Cedar Apartments. Mixed in with building their own apartment buildings they also constructed the Harbour Towers and the Royal Scot and worked on an expansion of the Royal Jubilee Hospital.
Vagn was a proud “papa”. He was never happier than spending time with his extended family and close friends in sunny Bowser at the beachfront family cabin that he, Gary and life long friend Melbye built over forty years ago.
He and Ruth travelled the world and enjoyed many retirement years. When home, he was always busy in his shop doing wood working for the family including building a boat for the cabin.
Vagn was an intelligent, hard working, practical and compassionate man.
He will be missed by many people from all walks of life.