Donald T. Sorlie

Donald Thomas Sorlie, 91, of West Bend, passed away on Wednesday, October 30, 2024.

Donald was born on October 13, 1933, in Kenmare, North Dakota, to the late Thomas and Ruby (nee Hoglund) Sorlie. Donald was raised on a farm near Coteau, North Dakota and graduated from Coteau High School in 1951. He then attended North Dakota State University with a Bachelors in Agricultural Engineering in 1955. While in college, he was active in Sigma Alpha Epsilon social fraternity as well as many other organizations. He was a member of Tau beta Pi honorary engineering society, Phi Kappa Phi honor society, and was a distinguished military graduate. After college Donald spent three years in the US Air Force. He attended the Aircraft maintenance Officer course at Chanute AFB, Illinois and was then stationed at Offutt AFB, Nebraska for the remainder of his service.

Following his military service, Donald spent 39 years working in product design and development in the farm machinery industry. The first 3 years were in the tractor engineering department at Allis Chalmers in West Allis, WI. Don then worked for Farmhand, Inc. in Hopkins, Minnesota for two years. Then he moved to Moline, Illinois where Donald started work for John Deere. In 1969 Donald was transferred to the John Deere Des Moines Works where he worked until his retirement in 1997. Don and his wife Barbara lived in Ankeny, Iowa for 43 years, returning to Wisconsin in 2013.

Donald was a registered professional engineer in both Illinois and Iowa. He was past state chairman of the Iowa Section of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers.

Those left to cherish Don’s memory include his wife of 64 years, Barbara Sorlie; daughter, Nancy; son, Thomas; three nephews, Steve, John, and David Bird; sister in-law, Patricia (Lowell) Johnson; cousins, other relatives and friends.

In addition to his parents, Donald is preceded in death by his sister, Margery (Ronald) Bird.

Per Donald’s wishes there will be no service, but the family is planning a celebration of life at a later date.

Don was a kindhearted and generous man.

Myrhum – Patten Funeral & Cremation Service has been entrusted with Donald’s arrangements. Additional information and tribute wall can be found at www.myhrum-patten.com.