Bent Soerensen

April 24, 1943 - April 2, 2025

In loving memory ~

Born in Horsens, Denmark April 24, 1943. Bent started his apprenticeship in mechanics and machining in 1958. In his leisure time he enjoyed fishing, racing motor cycles with side cars and later in life snowmobiling.

In 1965 he met Else Jensen, whom he married in 1967, in October 1968 Karin was born, and Dorte followed 3 years later, in January 1972. Bent introduced his daughters to the joy of fishing and later mechanics when they repaired their bikes in the cellar of the house build by his father, at H.C Andersen's Street in Horsens. In 1977 he opened a bike and marine shop at the harbor in Juelsminde, Denmark and with that kickstarting his lifelong passion for working for the marine community in both Denmark and Canada. In his younger years Bent was a charming and social guy who loved the company of friends and family and if possible combined with good food, preferably fish and even better if caught by himself.

Life is not always straight forward and after the cycle and marine shop closed in 1980 and he was divorced from Else in 1981, he immigrated to Canada on April 16, 1982, where he continued to work in his field of mechanical expertise in North Vancouver. The work included repairing lawn mowers, motorcycles, snowmobiles and outboard motors. The first couple of years Bent worked together with his younger brother Mogens in Vancouver and then on his own before he moved to Nanaimo in 1995 and opened a small marine repair shop at Hub City Marina, Viking Marine. Here he became the go-to guy for all marine repairs and advice. The latter of which he gave freely if anyone asked for it, and sometimes even if you didn't ask for it. Viking Marine eventually moved to the Anchorage Marina into a larger shop. Although he ran Viking Marine as a one-man shop, he did take on an apprentice for a short time to help a friend and for the last 10 years he tolerated Lew hanging around and helping as needed.

Bent passed peacefully at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital April 2, 2025 three weeks shy of his 82nd birthday after an extended period of failing health. He will be missed on the water front as the go-to guy for marine repairs.

He is survived by daughters Karin (and her husband Michael) and Dorte (and her husband Claus) and his younger brother Torben. Predeceased by his older brother Mogens.

A social is planned for May 27, 2025, at 1600 (4:00 PM) for anyone that knew Bent and would like to share a story. The social will be held at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 256, 1630 East Wellington Road, Nanaimo, B.C.