Gordon Jorgensen

In loving memory of Gordon Jorgensen, 81, who died on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. He passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his wife, children and dogs after a long battle with Lewy body dementia.

Gordon was born on Monday, April 19, 1943 in Chicago, IL to Ted Jorgensen and Dolores (Pollock) Jorgensen. His brother Ted was born in 1944.

Gordon moved with his family to Albuquerque, NM when he was 8. There he attended Highland High School where he played baseball and met his first wife, Kathy (LaBalbo) Jorgensen. After high school, he attended the University of New Mexico and graduated with a degree in business. After college, Gordon took a job with the National Labor Relations Board where he worked for 38 years until he retired in 2003.

Working for the NLRB brought Gordon, his wife and his children David and Dana to Phoenix in 1979. He lived there for many years raising his children and marrying his second wife, Karen Brinning Jorgensen in 2002. Karen passed away in 2004 and Gordon moved to Tijeras, NM in 2005 and married his third wife Stephanie Blackburn Jorgensen in 2008.

Gordon loved baseball (particularly the Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks) and basketball (the University of New Mexico Lobos). He had a passion for animals, owning successful thoroughbred race horses and loving many dogs, cats and even a ferret. He was also an avid reader and history buff with a particular interest in Native American history.

Gordon is preceded in death by his parents, brother Ted and second wife Karen. He is survived by his wife, Stephanie Blackburn Jorgensen of Tijeras, NM; son David Jorgensen, daughter Dana Jorgensen Salt; son-in-law Bryan Salt and granddaughter Madeleine Salt of Phoenix, AZ. He is also survived by his nephew Doug Reitz and niece Kristi Reitz Casseday.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, June 28, 2024 12:00 pm at Christ's Church of the Valley, 19030 N Pima Rd Scottsdale, AZ, 85255.