Mary Ellen Ida
Sorensen
Mary Ellen Ida (Koski) Sorensen, 84, a resident of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, passed away on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at Luther Manor. Mary Ellen was born on December 26, 1940, to Axel and Ailien (Harmala) Koski. She attended the local schools and graduated with Baraga High School’s Class of 1958. After high school, Mary Ellen attended the University of Michigan, graduating in 1962 with a degree in Nursing. That same year, she married Paul Sorensen on December 29, 1962. She loved the outdoors and enjoyed gardening, skiing, and walking her dog. She also enjoyed reading, sewing, and arts and crafts. Mary Ellen had a deep faith in God which sustained her throughout her life. She studied for and completed a master’s degree in nursing in 1976, which established her as one of the first Family Nurse Practitioners in the state of Wisconsin. She retired from her Nursing career in 2010. Mary Ellen is a member of Hales Corners Lutheran Church in Hales Corners, Wisconsin. Mary Ellen is preceded in her death by her parents, Axel and Ailien, her sisters Virginia and Miriam, her brothers in law Ray Mercier and Dave Nasco, her brother Arthur, niece Laura Nasco, son Nathan Sorensen and grandson Drew Sorensen. Mary Ellen is survived by her husband Paul of Wauwatosa, son Phillip (Lauren) of Centennial, Colorado, grandson Axel of Portland, Oregon and grandson Noah of Chico, California, daughter in law Wendy of Green Bay, grandson Max of Green Bay, brother Russ (Ruth) of Houghton, Michigan, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
The funeral service will be held at Hales Corners Lutheran Church in Hales Corners on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at 4:00pm with Pastor Leon to officiate. Visitation will take place prior to the service from 2:00pm-4:00pm at the church. The committal will take place at the Lakeside Cemetery in St. Ignace, Michigan on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at 2:00pm.
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Mary Ellen was a wonderful person, and pioneer in the Role of Nurse Practitioner back in 1976. She worked so hard to pass prescriptive authority for NP’s. My husband was a preceptor for those women back in the 1976 forward.. Dr. John Kuglitsch….she was a faithful brilliant NP to Dr. Raul Mateo for many years on the South Side. She also supported me getting my FNP too later in life. too.
Rest In Our Lord’s hands dear friend. Maureen Kuglitsch
Mary Ellen was a wonderful person, and pioneer in the Role of Nurse Practitioner back in 1976. She worked so hard to pass prescriptive authority for NP’s. My husband was a preceptor for those women back in the 1976 forward.. Dr. John Kuglitsch….she was a faithful brilliant NP to Dr. Raul Mateo for many years on the South Side. She also supported me getting my FNP too later in life. too.
Rest In Our Lord’s hands dear friend.
Mary Ellen was a wonderful person, and pioneer in the Role of Nurse Practitioner back in 1976. She worked so hard to pass prescriptive authority for NP’s. My husband was a preceptor for those women back in the 1976 forward.. Dr. John Kuglitsch….she was a faithful brilliant NP to Dr. Raul Mateo for many years on the South Side. She also supported me getting my FNP too later in life.
Rest In Our Lord’s hands dear friend.
Mary Ellen was a very sweet loving caring person. I was a patient of hers for many years going back to Family health Plan and then Lakeshore medical until the day she retired. I was heartbroken when she told me she was retiring. I was happy for her because she worked very hard and long hours. She deserved to enjoy her life. I do know heaven got a very special angel. Rest in peace you will be missed by everyone that had the pleasure of knowing you.
Mary Ellen and her husband Paul were my godparents. They went above and beyond in this role, annually sending birthday gifts well into my adulthood and continually taking an interest in my well being. She and my mother Miriam, her sister, had a strong relationship and kept in touch regularly, as both were deeply caring, thoughtful people. I last had the chance to see her at my mother’s funeral in 2022 and she was a great comfort. May God bless her and her family. I know she is in heaven now.
I met Mary Ellen at Pine Lake in 1981. She was a role model at the time. I graduated with a BSN in 1985 and MSN in 2012. I did not keep in touch with her but always remember her beautiful smile and care she had for family.
Mary Ellen was a faithful, musical, loving person who taught me, among other things, the concept of being Jesus in the skin.