John Sorensen

John W. Sorensen, Jr. 83, died peacefully at his home in Colorado on February 15, 2026.

Born July 11, 1942 to John and Marie Sorensen of Curtice, Ohio, John was the first of three children. He graduated from Clay High School in Oregon, Ohio in 1961 and continued his education by earning an associate’s degree in drafting. He was a volunteer fireman in Jerusalem Township for several years and involved with Lucas County 4-H for 20 years, including 16 yrs as a Club Advisor.

When John moved from Curtice to Weston, Ohio, he started Black Swamp Appaloosas, where he bred, raised and showed Appaloosa horses. While he maintained a lifelong love of horses, he lost his enthusiasm for the business after a barn fire killed his horses, including his prized stud, Mr. Wapiti Moon.

John worked as a thin film deposition technician, first with Owens Illinois (OI) then later with Glasstech, Inc in Perrysburg, Ohio. It was through Glasstech, Inc that John met Denise. Denise was working for a sister company in Colorado and John was part of a group sent by Glasstech to help with a major project. After a year of mostly long distance dating, John and Denise married on July 13, 1991, after which he moved to Colorado.

In Colorado, John adapted to city life, though he remained a country boy, through and through. Houses were for sleeping; outdoors were for living. Whether it be riding a horse, camping, hunting, building a barn, tinkering with a piece of equipment, or just tending to animals, he was not a man to be contained indoors. Dress him in jeans with a belt and fancy buckle, a western shirt, a pair of cowboy boots, all topped off with a cowboy hat, let him loose outside, and he was content.

John continued his work in thin film deposition until he decided to start his own business: John’s Handyman Services. He could fix or build just about anything and this business was a way to put his talents to use. He was a craftsman who delighted in turning wood into something useful, from barns and sheds to decks and furniture. He was always looking for ways to help others, being generous with his time and talents.

John’s greatest joy was being with family. He loved his nephews and nieces, proudly bearing the name Uncle John. His Colorado family will remember him for “Uncle John’s Breakfast”, a gastronomic delight which he slowly and meticulously cooked in a large cast iron skillet over an open campfire, enjoyed best on a cool mountain morning.

John had a big personality who lived life large. He was a kind man who never met a stranger. He greeted everyone with a handshake and a twinkle in his eye. John was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Joyce Nissen. He is su1rvived by his wife, Denise; brother, Doug (Michele) Sorensen; 11 nephews and nieces, and a growing number of great nephews and nieces.

A graveside interment will be held at Oakwood Cemetery, 8545 Brown Rd., Curtice, Ohio on June 12, 2026 at 2:00pm.