French, Glenn (1923 - 2014)

FRENCH, CHRISTENSEN, DOONAN, ARENTSON

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 1/29/2014 at 18:01:01

Name of deceased: Glenn L. French

Aged: 90 yrs, 8 mo, 22 days

Residence: Harlan, IA

Born: April 19, 1923, Irwin, IA

Died: Jan. 11, 2014, at home in Harlan, IA

Funeral services: Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, Pauley Jones Funeral Home, Harlan, IA; Pastor Dan Hawn officiated. Military Rites provided at the Harlan (IA) Cemetery by the Harlan American Legion Helmer Reyelt Post No. 150 and Shelby County VFW Post No. 941.

Survived by: Wife of 69 years, Rosalie French of Harlan, IA; children, Judi (spouse, Kelly) Doonan of Harlan, John (spouse, Shelly) French of Council Bluffs, IA, Stan (spouse, Rebecca) French of Boise, ID, and Dave (spouse, Amy) French of La Jolla, CA; 12 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Dale (spouse, Phyllis) Arentson; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, John and Mary (nee Christensen) French; brother, Dale; sister, Elaine

Education: attended Laurel School and graduated from Harlan (IA) High School, Class of 1941

Religious affiliation: Baptist; was active in his church, serving in many different capacities over the years

Military service: Served as a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army Air Corp

Marriage: Rosalie Arentson; Oct. 27, 1944; Bethel Baptist Church, Harlan, IA

Employment: Upon his military discharge, he returned to Harlan and started farming on the family farm, doing so for 13 years before moving to California, where he worked for a contractor. In 1962, the family returned to Harlan where he continued to work in construction. In 1964, he built and owned an A&W restaurant. In 1967, Glenn pursued a new career in the grain industry: he accepted a job with Allied Mills and assumed the role as manager of the elevator in Sigourney, IA. Management positions with MFA and then Cenex took him to Warsaw and Higginsville, MO and River Falls, WI before retiring in 1988 in Harlan. During his retirement, Glenn stayed active doing various projects, including interim management duties at various grain elevators throughout the Midwest.

Hobbies/Interests: served as supervisor for the construction of 3 Habitat for Humanity homes in Harlan, IA. Glenn enjoyed staying busy, working as a handy man, playing golf, and attending the races at the Shelby County Speedway; he particularly enjoyed attending the Harlan High School basketball and football games, and was in charge of shooting the cannon before every Harlan game.

Sources: burmeisterjohannsen.com