She was born July 23, 1935, in Blue Hill, Nebraska to Oscar and Verna (Schmidt) Kort.
Janet graduated from Blue Hill High School in 1953. She moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, to work in the Accident Record Bureau at the Statehouse to July 1954. She moved home in August 1954 and was hired as the secretary to the Superintendent at Blue Hill High to May 1955. At this time in January 1955, she met her husband to be, Harlan Sorensen. They met on a “blind” date. On May 31, 1955, she moved back to Lincoln to attend the National Business Institute to receive admin certification. She graduated in August of 1955 and was placed in a business position at Olson Construction Company in the payroll department. On August 25, 1956, she married Harlan Sorensen in Greeley, Colorado where he was enrolled at the University of Northern Colorado. At this time, she was employed at Royer’s Insurance Agency & Crocker Claims Service in Greeley.
In the summer of 1957, she worked part-time for Modern Woodmen of America. Their first child, a son named David, was born in August of 1957. After graduation from UNC, Harlan was offered a teaching position in Brule, Nebraska. Their second child, a daughter named Cynthia, was born in May of 1959 in Ogallala, Nebraska. After three years, they moved to Marquette/Central City, Nebraska. The moved back to Colorado in 1962 and settled in the Keenesburg area where Harlan was teaching High School.
In November of 1965, their third child, another daughter named Carol, was born in Greeley, CO. In 1969 Janet started a job at UNC in Greeley as a typist in the Educational Planning Service. In 1971 they moved to Greeley. She spent 14 years in that position, then was promoted to Staff Assistant in the Personnel/Payroll Department for the next 11 years. She retired after 25 years, in June 1994. She then volunteered over 10 years at UNC in the RSVP department. Then she volunteered Gloria Christi Lutheran Church for several years. She moved to Erie, CO in 2017 to live with her daughter and son-in-law in a private suite in their home.
Her hobbies were to play golf, read, and make memories with her grandchildren.
She attended many Sorensen Family Reunions. She was an avid Denver Broncos fan. She and Harlan were married 57 years when he died in July of 2013. She survived two breast cancer episodes in 1988 and 2013, a heart attack in 2018, and a TIA (mild stroke) in 2021. She died of Renal Failure, Hypertension, and Dementia.
Janet is survived by her son, David Sorensen of Loveland, Colorado, and Daughters Cynthia (Cindy) Dennis (Bruce) of Greeley, and Carol Terry (Britt) of Erie. Four grandchildren Christopher Sorensen (Suzanne) of San Francisco, Jesse Miller of Greeley, Corben Kildow of Thornton, and Kylie Kildow (Cameron Shirk) of San Diego, CA. Five step-grandchildren Bruce Dennis (Lacy and sons Ethan and Jaxon) of Greeley, Jamie Dennis of Greeley, and Christopher Dennis (Jamie and daughters Haddie and Lillie) of Greeley, Brittney Trahan (Jacob) of Denver, CO and Brooke Terry (Lucas Carroll) of Erie, CO.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harlan, her parents, Verna and Oscar, her brothers Wayne Kort and Wesley Kort, and her sister Sylvia (Kort) Brass.
