Kim Sorensen

Kim Arno Sorensen—loving husband, doting father, fun (every kid’s dream) grandpa, “weird” uncle, people person, friend to all, pet lover, matchmaker, youth mentor, doer of good deeds, baseball player, Eagle Scout, salesman, forever optimist, teller of jokes, king of “debris,” music listener, avid storyteller, “survivor” of 2020 Magna earthquake, collector of sentimental & peculiar items, devoted sports fan, afterlife enthusiast, lover of all things good and uplifting, and most importantly a true follower of Christ—passed away peacefully at home on January 6, 2024 surrounded by loved ones, including his 3 Siberian cats. He died much too early at age 70 due to complications from pancreatic cancer and leukemia (CLL). He also suffered from a chronic blood clot in his right leg and a cancerous Sister Mary Joseph nodule in his abdomen.

Kim was born on Wednesday, March 18, 1953 in Provo, Utah to his wonderful parents, Wilson & Helen Sorensen. He enjoyed growing up in Provo with 3 siblings (2 brothers and a sister), cats, dogs, Peep the chicken, and even a tortoise. At a young age, Kim developed a special love of baseball. He played organized baseball from 8 years old until he was 22. A highlight for him was playing 1st base on Provo High School’s 1971 State Championship Team. He also played for UVU during his first years of college. Later in life, Kim enjoyed playing basketball with friends and attending both BYU & Utah football games with various family members.

Scouting was a big part of Kim’s life growing up. He was an Eagle Scout and a scholarship recipient for the training program at Philmont Scout Ranch. He also had the privilege of attending the 1969 National Boy Scout Jamboree in Farragut State Park in Idaho. In addition, Kim helped train junior leaders to work at Camp Maple during the summer.

Kim has always been an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served a 2-year mission in the Ireland Belfast Mission from 1972-1974. Throughout his life, he held many church callings including elders quorum president, high councilman, bishop, intercity missionary with his wife Tonia, Sunday School teacher, and counselor in a singles ward bishopric. His final calling, which he magnified until the very end of his life, was locking up his ward building every night. Kim had a strong testimony of the Savior and his membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was anxiously looking forward to being on the other side of the veil and exploring the Spirit World.

On December 11, 1975 Kim was married and sealed to his lovely wife, Tonia Carol Webb, in the Provo Utah Temple. They were blessed with 3 wonderful children, Rory, Rachel and Rebecca, whom they raised primarily in West Valley City, Utah. Their children, in turn, provided them with 13 special grandchildren. Throughout his life, Kim developed and maintained strong relationships with his wonderful sister & brothers, in-laws, and many other relatives. Furthermore, he was a second dad/grandpa to many neighbors, ward members, and friends of his kids and grandkids. Lastly, Kim truly loved his many pets, which included a dog, cats, hamsters, and parakeets. His & Tonia’s current pets are 3 Siberian forest cats: Leo, Luna, and Sasha (aka Snee).

Kim graduated from UVU with an associate degree, followed by a degree in psychology at BYU. He sold books during college summers in New York, Indiana and Michigan. His career was in sales—first working for Great American Opportunities providing fundraising opportunities to school groups. Later he worked for the Herff Jones education division, Nystrom, selling social studies materials to schools in Utah and parts of Idaho. In 2007, Kim was inducted into Nystrom’s Hall of Fame, which spanned the years 1993-2010. He was one of only 15 recipients who ever received this distinguished honor.

Kim had many hobbies and favorite pastimes, probably the biggest of which was supporting his grandkids and nephews who played football, basketball, soccer and baseball—from rec teams to high school, college and even pro. He was always one of their biggest cheerleaders. His nephews would joke that Uncle Kim would watch them at football practice from a nearby grassy knoll. In addition, Grandpa Kim would always attend his grandkids’ musical, dance, cheer, and theatrical performances.

Kim was an avid collector of calendars that he’d hang up throughout his house and garage and give to all of his family and friends. He especially loved landscape, pathway, flower, cottage, and animal calendars. He also collected extra-large athletic shoes (usually from deals he found at Ross), trinkets, baseball hats, Halloween masks, bar soaps, future gifts for others, books on the afterlife, and paintings from mouth & foot artists. Finally, Kim collected Siberian forest cats, but fortunately Tonia limited that collection to a max of 3.

Kim was definitely a bargain shopper—he loved a good deal. Consequently, NPS, WinCo, Costco, Sam’s Club, and thrift stores like Deseret Industries were some of his favorite places to shop. He loved to gift bargain clothing to family. His house was like a convenience store offering a plethora of treats, snacks, and drinks to all who stopped by. His collection of edibles fondly became known as Kim’s debris (one of his favorite words) and would always accompany him to parties and family gatherings.

Kim always kept his sense of humor and dry wit to the very end of his life. For example, when an oncologist at Huntsman Cancer Hospital asked him how he was doing shortly before being sent home on hospice, he told the doctor: “I feel diverse.” One of Kim’s latest dad jokes that he enjoyed telling every doctor, nurse and person he encountered was about pickleball. He would ask, “Have you played pickleball?” Then he’d say, “Well, you should try it—it’s kind of a big dill.” After they connected the dots in their brain, he would respond by saying, “I knew you would relish it once you got it.”

One of Kim’s greatest accomplishments was learning how to use a smart phone. That entailed sending text messages, taking photos, showing people pictures of his cats and family, reading the news on his phone, and using apps. This was quite a feat considering that only a few years before Kim got an iPhone, he didn’t even know how to turn on a laptop or desktop computer. He considered himself technology impaired. Now Kim can finally say he is tech savvy—at least to a point!

On his 67^th birthday (March 18, 2020) around 7 am, Kim “survived” Utah’s 5.7 magnitude earthquake with an epicenter not far from his home in West Valley City. He was downstairs in the bathroom next to his bedroom. He was convinced a freight train had just crashed into his house. He had no idea it was an earthquake. Since that time, Kim refused to sleep in his bed or any bed for that matter. He would only sleep in a chair or recliner in more open areas of the house. He started joking with everyone, including his pharmacists, that every year on his birthday he’d have a big piece of “birthday quake.”

Kim is survived by his eternal companion Tonia, son Rory (Jodi) Sorensen, daughter Rachel (Kevin) Harding, daughter Rebecca Sorensen, and 13 grandchildren: Akime, Kaitlyn, Josh, Kainoa, Shannon, Dallin, Kindia, Kasia, Brynna, Anna, Ellie, Daisy and Leila. Also survived by his older brother Kent (Jill) and brother Kory’s wife Roxann. Kim is proceeded in death by his parents Helen & Wilson, older sister Kathy, and younger brother Kory.

Kim’s viewing will be on January 12^th (Fri) from 6:00-8:00 PM, as well as 10:00-10:45 AM the following day. His funeral service will begin at 11:00 AM on January 13^th (Sat). These services will be held at Kim’s church building on 3372 S. Merry Lane in WVC, UT. Interment will follow at 2:00 PM at Eastlawn Memorial Hills Cemetery in Provo, UT.

Please scroll down to see pictures of Kim and his family.

For those who can’t attend the funeral in person, the service will also be broadcast via Zoom. Use either the following link or the meeting ID and associated passcode to connect to the broadcast:

https://zoom.us/j/97552463788?pwd=VWJIMzVSaXIzc21KakN0TlZUaUEvZz09

Zoom Meeting ID: 975 5246 3788 | Passcode: 022898