UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMYCADET CHAPEL

USAF ACADEMY, CO1000 Hours 3 March 2014

Dr. Joseph GalemaPRELUDE

*PROCESSIONAL

*OPENING SENTENCES

INVOCATION

HYMN

SCRIPTURE READING

WORDS FROM THE FAMILY

Chaplain Shawn Menchion

Chaplain Shawn Menchion

#327 Old Rugged Cross

Chaplain Shawn Menchion

Barry Boals

Tyler Gentry

Eric Sorenson

John 11:32-35SCRIPTURE READING

MEDIATION

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

HYMN "Air Force Hymn"

*BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE

Chaplain Shawn Menchion

Dr. Galema

Chaplain Menchion

Dr. Galema

*Please Stand

l

IN MEMORY OF

Lt. Col Marius Gus Sorenson (ret)U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY

CLASSOF 197007 August 1944 - 16 February 2014

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Lt. Col Marius Gus Sorenson, (ret)Gus passed away at Baylor University Medical Center on February 16, 2014 inDallas, TX, after a fall on ice that resulted in a traumatic brain injury. He issurvived by his wife, Margaret A. Sorenson of Irving, TX.; son, Eric AnthonySorenson of Glenwood Springs, Co.; sisters Myrna Jean Sorensen of Spearfish,SD and Marlene (Robert) Rothermel of Sunset Beach, NC; brother Gary Lee(Diana) Sorensen of Katy, TX.; stepdaughter Karla Niswonger Gentry ofDandridge, TN; stepgrandsons Tyler Bronson Gentry of Jersey City, NJ andTrevor Allen Gentry of Dandridge, TN; several nieces and nephews. He waspredeceased by grandparents Gus and Anna (Hansen) Whitelock and Marius andViola (Berg) Sorensen; parents Marius Howard (Morrie) Sorensen and Ethel Mae(Whitelock) Boothe.Gus's story began on August 7, 1944 in Seattle, Washington. He was born, thefirst son and second of four children, on the day his father shipped out, as amember of the Merchant Marines, to join U.S. Navy operations in the SouthPacific.His educational experiences began with kindergarten in Seattle. The familyreturned to Nisland, SD, the parental home town, where Gus attended grades 1-3. The family then moved to Belle Fourche, SD where Gus attended grades 4-12,graduating from Belle Fourche High School in 1962. He then enlisted in the USAFserving at HQ US Security Service at Kelly AFB, TX and at Shu Lin Kou AirStation, Taipei, Taiwan. While there he took courses in Mandarin Chinese. From1965 - 1966 Gus attended the U. S Air Force Academy Prep School and thenentered the U.S Air Force Academy, graduating in 1970 with degrees. inInternational Affairs & Far Eastern Studies, receiving an Academic Order of Merit.1970 - 1971 saw him in pilot training. Gus did graduate studies as an OlmstedScholar from 1976 - 1980 attending National Taiwan University, School of Law,Taipei, Taiwan; Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, Boston,MA. He received MA degree in International Relations & National SecurityAffairs from Tufts University. In 1983 Gus returned to the U.S. Air Force Academyattending Air Command and Staff College. Gus didn't let learning stop there. Inthe last few years of his retirement he had continued a disciplined study oflanguage, piano, art, and landscaping.Gus' employment story began in childhood delivering the Belle Fourche DailyPost with his younger brother, Gary Lee. FOllowing his graduation from the U.S.Air Force Academy and pilot training, he served as a pilot in the U.S. Air Forcewith OPS and Tactical Air Command Airlift as a C-130H Aircraft Commander. Heretired with more than 3000 hours flying experience. From 1980 - 1984 he wasAssistant Professor at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, teachingPolitical Science courses, serving as a Director of Curriculum and Scheduling andwas an Instructor Pilot for the ssz" Flying Training Squadron. 1984-1987 was atime of service as Chief, People's Republic of China, Malaysia & PhilippinesPrograms, U.S. Air Force Headquarters, Washington, DC. During this time heprovided leadership in producing PEACE PEARL, the first major military-to-military program between the U.S. and the People's Republic of China, and alsomanaged security assistance programs with Malaysia, the Philippines, Japan,and Taiwan.

He retired from the Air Force as Lt. Colonel in 1989. At the time of his retirement,Gus reflected on his 27 consecutive years of service with these words: "I retirewith the hope that I made a difference, and that today's and tomorrow's Air Forcewill be better in some small way because of my efforts." Following his retirementfrom the Air Force, Gus served as the Senior program Manager of WeaponsPrograms at Base Ten Systems, INC. Trenton N.J. In 1992 his prior Air Forceservice experiences, his fluency in the Mandarin language, and his expertise inprogram management, led to a seven year tenure as the Chief of Air ForcePrograms and then Chief of the Technical Section of the American Institute ofTaiwan (AIT), Taipei, Taiwan. Following his assignment at AIT, Gus then workedfor Northrup Grumman as Vice President of Marketing, Taiwan. From 1999 to2007 he worked for Lockheed Martin Global as Vice President of BusinessDevelopment, Taiwan and the Philippines. He was an active member of both theAmerica Club in China and the American Chamber of Commerce from 1994 to2007 serving as president of both organizations.Gus loved to travel and did so extensively, for business and pleasure, visitingcountries on all continents, with the exception of Antarctica. He was learningItalian in preparation for his and Maggie's upcoming visit to Italy.A fitness enthusiast, Gus played competitive level squash, racquetball, andtennis. He enjoyed running to keep fit and continued to hone the bowling skills helearned as a youth. He played golf with his family and friends, and was quiteproud of the hole-in-one he made playing at the Air Force Academy during hisrecent class reunion. '"He had a love of art and artistic expression in all forms and an eye for beauty inpeople and nature. Retirement allowed him the time to re-visit his skills at thepiano and to take art classes. Gus was learning about the landscape needs oftheir retirement home in Sunset Beach, North Carolina, spending long hoursperfecting the yard, and planning future improvements.Gus will be remembered by family and friends as a gentle, generous, loving manof intellect and integrity.

Honorary Pallbearers

Eric Anthony Sorenson (Son)Myrna Sorensen (Sister)Marlene Rothermel (Sister)Gary Lee Sorensen (Brother)Robert Rothermel (Brother-in-law)

Barry BoalsJoe Gaenetta

John DefalippoJohn Soltis