KIT SORENSON

Kit Edward Sorenson, age 73, passed away on Tuesday, April 5, 2022 after a brief stay at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center in Neenah.  Kit's immediate family was with him that day and his death leaves a gaping hole in all our lives.  He will be sorely missed, but for those lucky enough to know Kit, we are grateful to have shared this journey with him.

Kit was born in Two Rivers, WI on February 11, 1949 to Ernie and Ethel (Paplham) Sorenson, the youngest of three children.  The family moved to Green Bay in 1957.  Sports were a very important part of Kit's life.  He served as a bat boy for the Green Bay Dodgers minor league baseball team, and traveled with the team (assuredly an interesting life experience for 12 year old Kit!).  He was also a vendor for the Packers, hawking everything from peanuts to beer.  He distributed stadium seats at the Ice Bowl game in 1967, and snuck in to watch the game.  He coached youth soccer (and all 3 of his kids) for years, never letting his limited knowledge of the game deter him!  Kit loved all Wisconsin sports, was a lifetime season ticket holder for the Packers, and enjoyed sharing his tickets and watching games with family and friends.  He loved the lead-up to the NFL draft each spring…constantly honing his list of prospects and dreaming the best of them would end up in Green Bay in his 7 round mock draft.  Much to his dismay his choices were rarely Packers selections but it was a great diversion for him.   He also enjoyed fantasy football with son Tom and friends.

Kit was a proud East-sider who graduated in 1967 from Green Bay East High School.   Kit attended UWGB, starting at the Deckner Avenue campus, and graduating in Political Science and Urban Analysis in one of the first classes at the new four-year campus.  Politics was the thread that weaved through his entire life.  He was one of the first presidents of the UWGB Alumni Association, and in April 1970 he was elected as the youngest Alderman in Green Bay, defeating a long-term incumbent. 

Kit married Kathy Minix in 1970 and they eventually started a family.  He loved to tell the story about one of his first “dates” with Kathy when he showed up to pick her up at home and a houseful of her siblings piled into his vehicle for a trip to the Shopko-sponsored fireworks at Lambeau Field.  Some date!  He never flinched, didn't run away screaming and became another big brother to them all.  

Kit's career was always customer facing and business focused starting with AC Nielsen and the United Way of Brown County and then the Green Bay Chamber of Commerce.  In 1975 the family moved to Neenah when he became the director of the Neenah-Menasha Chamber of Commerce.  Later, Kit had a long career as Director of Corporate Services for Neenah Foundry.  Kit enjoyed working with the power brokers, captains of industry and elected officials at the state and national level.   His duties included traveling to Madison and Washington, DC and his work as a lobbyist was a role he cherished.   Meetings in Madison often allowed him to catch up with family attending the UW and the hungry college students were the recipients of some great restaurant meals.   After leaving the foundry, Kit found the job he was destined for – Economic Development Consultant at the Wisconsin Department of Tourism.  His phone tag line was “Have a great Wisconsin day!”  Kit traveled every corner of the state, meeting and greeting people as he represented the state with his unique marketing ideas.  After retiring from the State of Wisconsin, Kit started his own consulting company, working with a variety of clients, continuing to do the work he loved for several more years. 

Kit was a great cook, a gracious host and accomplished grill master.  He loved cooking shows, starting with the Frugal Gourmet.  Kit enjoyed cooking for his family and friends, testing recipes from cookbooks stemming from the shows he watched.  Kit and Kathy's home was a gathering point for numerous get-togethers.  The door was always open.  All were welcomed warmly.  Whether it was a chili meal during a Packers game, a summer cookout or a full-blown meal for 25 or more at the holidays, an invite to the Sorenson's meant great food, much laughter and time well spent.

The Sorensons loved to travel and Kit would do extensive research and plan in-depth itineraries of places to go and things to do.  The family took a trip to DisneyWorld in 2019 and Kit was tickled by how the roles had reversed and now Becky and Tom and Tom were watching out for him and treating him to a good time. 

Kit is survived by his wife of 51 years, Kathy Sorenson, son Tom Sorenson, daughter Becky (Tom) Murray, beloved granddaughters Harper and Jordan, sisters Kathy Criel and Mary (Stan) DeMoulin.  He is further survived by in-laws Bob (Carol) Minix, David Minix, Patricia (Jeff) Nuthals, Jeff (Tammy Ruh) Minix, Greg Minix (Jeanne Benck), John (Paula) Minix, Jean (Don) Berg, Mark Minix, Brian (Marcy) Minix, and many beloved nieces and nephews who affectionately called him “Uncle Kit”.   Kit was the proud godfather to nephews DJ DeMoulin and Scott Berg.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his in-laws Robert and Virginia Minix, son Tim, and brother-in-law Jim Criel.  Tim's passing in 1994 devastated everyone and was one of the reasons Kit dove head-long into the NFL draft as a way to cope during the difficult month of April.  While we mourn Kit's passing, we are comforted to know that he's reunited with Tim and his “mum” and dad and others we've lost along the way.

Kit served on the Neenah Arbor Day Committee for many years and he was the honoree at the April 1995 celebration, one year after Tim's death.   The committee planted a tree in Kit's name in Memorial Park and a talented fourth grade student wrote a poem honoring Kit.  The tree stands tall and proud to this day. 

A visitation will be held on Saturday, April 23, 2022 from 11:00 to 1:00 pm with a short memorial service to follow at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, 900 Geiger Street, Neenah, WI 54956.    

The family would like to offer a heartfelt thank you to all the doctors and medical professionals who helped Kit throughout the years.  Thanks to Neenah-Menasha Fire and Rescue and special thanks to Dr. Matthew Oetken and his staff, along with the ER professionals and doctors and nurses on the fifth floor at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center Neenah. 

In lieu of flowers, feel free to make a donation to the charity of your choice in honor of Kit.  If you need an idea, Kit thought highly of Heifer International www.heifer.org.

Kit's quick wit, puns, groaners, and dad jokes will be missed.   We heard most of them so many times that they, like our memories of the man, will stay with us forever. 

“Bury me with a fork, because the best is yet to come.”