Tornell was born March 24, 1915, in Viking, Minnesota. He married Esther Gilbertson in 1942. She survives.
Tornell served eight Covenant congregations: Mission Covenant Church in Big Falls, Minnesota; Mission Covenant Church in Mankato, Minnesota; Evangelical Covenant Church in Chicago Heights, Illinois; Mission Covenant Church in Excelsior, Minnesota; Mission Covenant Church in Selah, Washington; Community Covenant Church of Eagle Rock in Los Angeles, California; White Oak Evangelical Covenant Church in Northridge, California; and First Covenant Church in Iron Mountain, Michigan.
He also served on the denomination’s former Board of Publications and as chair of the North Pacific Conference.
Survivors include two sons, James and John Tornell; and a daughter, Susan Watson.