Eileen Sornson

***The slideshow and service is available below the obituary.***

Eileen Sornson, 85, of Exira, Iowa, was welcomed to her Heavenly home by her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Monday, November 17, 2025, at Heritage House in Atlantic.

Eileen June was born on June 9, 1940, at home in Elk Horn, Iowa, the daughter of Harvey Peter and Karen “Carrie” Mathilda (Nielsen) Mathisen. Her relationship with Christ started at an early age with being baptized and confirmed at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church. She grew up with her three sisters and she was definitely the “tom boy”, her dad often coming home from work and saying, “Hey pal, let’s go fishing.” Eileen attended Elk Horn schools where she was active in speech, played basketball and served as the superintendent’s secretary during her junior and senior year. She graduated from Elk Horn High School in the Class of 1958.

Opposites do attract! Eileen’s outgoing personality caught the eye of a shy, Galen Sornson and on August 2, 1958, the high school sweethearts married at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church. The couple was blessed with four children, Brad, Gayleen, Cory and Nathan. She married and started her family young and wouldn’t hesitate to tell you she was glad she did and would do it again. While raising their family one of their traditions was attending Christmas Eve services and joining family after and on Christmas day. The couple was the King and Queen of the 2021 Tivoli Fest and were also honored at the Iowa State Fair with The Way We Live Award. This award is given to six families each year who exemplify hard working farm values and a love of farming.

Following their marriage, they lived for a short time in Elk Horn before moving to Galen’s parents’ farm in April of 1959. In 1975, they moved to his grandparent’s farm which was the homeplace and is now a Century Farm (140 years).

Over the span of 38 years, she blessed the lives of students in the S&P classrooms of Atlantic Community School District at Pymosa and Washington Elementary. Eileen started volunteering at Pymosa when the feeling of an “empty nest” set in after all the kids were in school. It didn’t take long for others to notice the natural ability she had to connect with the students and she was soon offered a full-time position. The positive energy she radiated in her normal every day-to-day life brought joy and smiles to all. If you asked her about the help she gave, she would often say, “They helped me more than I helped them!”

Eileen was an active life-long member of the Elk Horn Lutheran Church. She held various roles on the church board, sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, led confirmation, helped with the food pantry, and did various outreach with WOW (Women of the Word).

There was no doubt she had a sense of style whether it was in seasonal decorating of her home or her fashionable dress finished off with the perfect jewelry. Often times the center piece of her outfit was one of her 80 cross necklaces. Eileen’s caramel apple pie and cinnamon rolls were not only a family favorite but a town favorite as she sold out almost instantly each year at Julefest. In addition to her goodies, she also sold fleece tie blankets. Other family favorites were her monster cookies and maid rites with just the right amount of brown sugar and cheese. Eileen loved music and often listened to gospel music and country.

The key to Eileen’s life was her unwavering trust in the Lord. She read her Bible and did devotions daily, so much so that it was frail and in pieces. In the days prior to her death she shared with family that she had no fear of death and was looking forward to meeting her maker and reconnecting with those that had gone before her.

Eileen’s vibrant spirit, always on the go energy, loyalty, forgiving nature, and commitment to her faith will be forever cherished. She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Galen Sornson; children, Brad Sornson (Carla Gust), Gayleen Rutherford, Cory Sornson (Jennifer) and Nathan Sornson (Mindy Massey); 8 grandchildren, Samantha Ritchey (Jake), Gage Sornson (Chenice), Clay Sornson, Alexis Morgan (Kurt), Corey Rutherford (Laura), Austin Rutherford (Maddy), Karen Sornson, and Rachel Jarrett (Jacob); 15 great-grandchildren, Brooks, Everly & Collins Ritchey, Landon, Dutch & Halen Sornson, Ryland, Dracyn & Avyn Morgan, Adley & Boone Rutherford, Croix, Eilen & Oakley Rutherford, and Henry Jarrett; sister, Vicki Leistad (Arnie); sister-in-law, Mary Rose Sornson; brothers-in-law, Kent Rasmussen and Dr. El Sornson; and many extended family.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Harvey and Carrie Mathisen; parents-in-law, Elmer T. and Eleanor Sornson; sister, Shirley Lange (Frank) and Lela Mae Rasmussen; brother-in-law, Dr. Rodney Sornson (Zola); and sisters-in-law, April Sornson and Vivienne Sornson.

Visitation with the family present will begin at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, November 26th at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church followed by a Celebration of Life service at 11:00 a.m. The service will be recorded and available on the funeral home website by end of day Wednesday.

Burial will be in the Elk Horn Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the family for later designation to support causes that were dear to Eileen’s heart.

Roland Funeral Service is caring for Eileen's family and her arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.