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Waukesha tragedy victims: Virginia Sorenson, 79, was the 'heart' of Dancing Grannies

'Ginny' Sorenson, 79, was one of the five people killed by suspect Darrell Brooks in Waukesha, Wisconsin after he crashed into the Christmas parade

Following the deadly parade tragedy in Waukesha, Wisconsin, police have revealed the names of the five victims on November 22, 2021. As we reported, on November 21, an SUV plowed into a parade in the city, killing five and injuring over 40. The driver was arrested and has been identified as Darrell Brooks.

Brooks, a rapper who goes by the name of MathBoi Fly is a career criminal who had seven open criminal cases against him at the time of the incident. While the attack has left America outraged, a stunning silence from President Joe Biden and leading Democrats have caused even more fury.

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His brutal attack injured several members of the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies and killed four of them. One of those killed is Virginia 'Ginny' Sorenson, a 79-year-old grandmother who was described as the "heart" of the group.

Who was Virginia Sorenson?

Despite a bad back and hip, Ginny loved to dance and was an instructor and choreographer for the Dancing Grannies. In fact, Ginny loved to dance so much that she had been with the group for 19 years, and had no intentions of stopping. "She liked the instructing. She liked the dancing and the camaraderie of the women. She liked to perform," her husband of 56 years, David Sorenson, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

After meeting a church event decades ago, the duo lived a long and happy life together, that led to three children and six grandchildren. Apart from the Dancing Grannies, Ginny also loved animals and cared for horses, chickens, dogs, and cats at her home in Muskego. A former registered nurse, Ginny still worked part-time in medical records, using the money to pay for the horses and treat her grandchildren. But nothing could keep Ginny away from the Dancing Grannies. She and David held frequent parties for the group, and their grandkids would also often march with them. 

The beloved grandmom was widely mourned after her death, with condolence messages flooding social media. "If you want to know what kind of a person 79-year-old Virginia “Ginny” Sorenson was, read these texts she sent to my coworker Winnie a few months ago. RIP Ginny. Keep on dancing," one local journalist tweeted. Another said, "Prayers to the family and friends of Virginia Sorenson who died yesterday in the horrific tragedy in Waukesha WI."

The Grannies have also mourned Sorenson with posts on social media. If you wish to donate to her family, you can do so via this GoFundMe page that will donate to the Grannies, and the other groups affected by the tragedy. Alternatively, you can also donate to a GiveSendGo campaign that will give the money to families affected. Waukesha County has also set up a United for Waukesha Community Fund, with the money also going to the families.