Holger "Hoagy" Henning Jorgensen's Obituary
Holger Henning Jorgensen (Best known as Hoagy) was born 9-28-32 to Sigurd and Karen Jorgensen in Chicago, Illinois. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Nancy Lee Lofftus Jorgensen. He is survived by his sister Margrethe Johnson and his daughter Kathy Moore along with his grandchildren, Nikolette Moore Chatwin and Jacob Moore and their partners Jordan Chatwin and Micaela Thomas.
Hoagy (Our Dad and Papa) was a bright ray of light! His laugh was booming and contagious! A smile on his face and a walking positive affirmation!! “I’m doing great! My life is great! I really feel good - especially for my age!”
A little about Hoagy’s life:
Hoagy moved to Wisconsin to his uncle’s farm as a young boy, and to hear him tell it, his life changed forever. He began a healthy, active and outdoor life! He had gotten very sick as a child and his uncle’s farm and family gave him a new lease on life!
He graduated from Williams Bay High School in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. He was class President and played on the football team.
While in high school, he made lifelong friends. That’s just the thing, Hoagy made friends wherever he went! One friend in particular, Farnom Gerard introduced him to the steel industry and again his life changed forever!
Before starting his career in the steel industry, Hoagy served his country in the army. During his time with the army, he went to a USO event and met the love of his life, Nancy Lee Jorgensen! He loved to tell the story that they had only been on two dates before he asked her to marry him and she said yes! Nancy and Hoagy were to have a wedding in the fall, but instead he got leave on Memorial Day weekend. While on leave, he drove from Chicago to Springfield, Missouri, woke Nancy up and said, “I can’t wait - let’s get married now!”. Again, she said yes! Hoagy and Nancy were married the next day in the living room of her parent’s house.
Their first few years were spent in a studio apartment on State Line Road in Hammond, Indiana. They loved it and created many fond memories! They had to fold up their bed to be able to walk across their living room. This was a story that was told many times.
Hoagy then received another job offer in Knoxville, Tennessee. So once again, Nancy said yes. In 1963, while in Knoxville, their daughter Kathryn was born, and they were thrilled! Many times, Hoagy spoke of Knoxville as one of his favorite places to live.
Hoagy and Nancy then went to St. John, Indiana. They were there through Kathryn’s Middle and High School years. Once Kathryn hit her driving years it also started Hoagy’s love affair with checking oil. Once she went off to college, no visit went by without him waiving her dipstick from her car at her.
After St. John, Hoagy and Nancy then went to St. Louis, Missouri where he finished out his years in the steel industry. He helped to create the company he worked at called Gateway. While in his position there he started working with Anheuser-Busch to create all the stainless-steel vats for their manufacturing facilities. He was so well loved there that Anheuser-Busch threw his retirement party!
Hoagy worked in the steel industry for over 60 years and “never missed a paycheck”, as he would put it!! He worked hard and had a great reputation. He received several honors and awards as he progressed through his illustrious career! Many of the projects he worked on you many have heard of, including refurbishing the Golden Gate Bridge and the Ship Canal Bridge in Seattle over the bay.
When grandchildren started coming, he was thrilled again! His family was very important to him and Nancy! They moved to Utah to be closer to the family and built a beautiful home in Heber, Utah. They lived in that home until Nancy’s passing in 2015. At that point, Hoagy moved to Holladay once again to be closer to his family.
Hoagy Jorgensen is the definition of the American Dream. From humble beginnings, Hoagy was able to serve his country, start a family, travel from coast to coast, create lifelong friendships, have a successful career literally building America and bless us all with his bellowing, and jovial laugh along the way.
You will be forever missed! Thank you for everything you did for all of us.
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