Abner Anton Korsness

Abner Anton Korsness was born July 7, 1929, in Minot, North Dakota to Soren and Agnes Korsness. He was raised during the great depression on a farm near Souris, North Dakota. The family moved to Oregon in 1941, settling on a farm in Canby. There, Abner’s brother Oliver was born. Abner graduated from Canby High School, and then joined the Navy. He served aboard ship in Japan, South Korea, and Hawaii.

Abner attended Portland State, where he met and soon married Patricia Loy Warnke in 1955. They joined and have remained active at Milwaukie Lutheran Church. With a B.S. from Portland State, and later a master's from Oregon State, Abner taught in Molalla, Milwaukie, and then Rex Putnam High School as a math and photography teacher. He and Pat had four children, Mark, twins Lynn and Susan, and Steven.

Abner and Pat built a home in Clackamas and raised their children there. They enjoyed summer road trips to Illinois in 1968 and Connecticut in 1971, where Abner studied math at the universities there. Ultimately the family visited 45 states.

Abner retired in 1988 after 33 years of teaching. He then taught night courses at Clackamas Community College. He and Pat enjoyed camping, boating, and traveling the world. Their best times though were spent with their 4 kids, their 12 grandkids, and a growing number of great-grand kids. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s at 86, he eventually lost mobility but remained compassionate and fully engaged in life until his passing at age 94 on January 27, 2024.

He is survived by his wife, Pat; kids, Mark (Jonna), Lynn (Butch), Susan (Mike), and Steven (Shelly); and brother, Oliver. He will be interred at Willamette National Cemetery with Full Military Honors. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Milwaukie Lutheran Church at https://www.milwaukielutheran.org/ .