Arnold Leroy Sorensen

We lost a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in Rainier, OR. He will be remembered for his deep love and devotion to his family! Arnold Leroy Sorensen was born in Knappton, Washington, on October 5, 1933, to Lawrence and Edna Sorensen. Growing up, you could find him hunting, fishing, and enjoying many outdoor adventures. He raised an abandoned litter of bobcats for a short time, he got sprayed by a skunk, and rode all around, first on his bike, later on his Harley Davidson. Arnold served in the U.S. Navy from February 1953 to June 1960 as a radio operator. After serving his country, he started working in the fire station at Weyerhaeuser in Longview, Washington, where he met and fell in love with Judy McGinley, who worked in the mill office; that’s where their story began. They were married on May 12, 1962, and enjoyed camping, playing tennis, and competing in (and winning!) bowling tournaments, as they raised their five children in Rainier, Oregon. Arnold found his career at the fire station, where he was promoted to Fire Chief. Among his many accomplishments was being awarded the highest civilian honor given by the U.S. Corps of Engineers for his quick action and leadership in putting out a barge fire on the Columbia River. His expertise was called upon often as he consulted nation-wide. Arnold loved sharing his time with family and friends! You could always find him taking people out in his boat fishing on the Columbia River, guiding a hunting trip, digging clams on the beach, collecting mussels, or crabbing. He never missed his kids’ school or sporting events, and you could often find him on the court or field coaching. He shared his vast knowledge of many things: rigging and casting a fishing pole, cleaning fish, reloading shells, sighting in a gun, boating and hunting safety, processing big game, the list goes on. His legacy continues as it is passed down through the generations. Arnold's character, generosity and devotion to his family and friends made him the man we all loved. He will be greatly missed. He is survived by his wife, Judy; his five children: Patty Palmer (Deen), Kathy Pettit, Carol Ell (Kim), Amy Buchheit (Scott), Jeff Sorensen (Tara); his 17 grandchildren; his 18 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers Ben and Larry Sorensen, and his sister Clara Holdiman.