Glenn L. French
April 19, 1923 — January 11, 2014
Glenn French was born to John and Mary (Christensen) French on April 19, 1923 at Irwin, Iowa. He attended Laurel School and graduated from Harlan High School in May 1941. On October 27, 1944 he was united in marriage to Rosalie Arentson at the Bethel Baptist Church in Harlan. Four children were born to this union, Judi, John, Stanley and Dave.
Glenn served his country as a 2nd Lt. in the Army Air Corp. Upon discharge he returned to Harlan to start farming on the family farm. They farmed 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 on Chatburn Ave at the site currently occupied by Casey’s gas station. In 1967 Glenn pursued a new career in the Grain Industry. He accepted a job with Allied Mills to assume the role as Manager of the elevator in Sigourney, Iowa. Management positions with MFA and then Cenex took him to Warsaw and Higginsville, Missouri and River Falls, Wisconsin before he and Rosalie retired in 1988 in Harlan.
During retirement Glenn stayed active doing various projects including interim management duties at various Grain Elevators throughout the Midwest. He also served as supervisor for the construction of three Habitat for Humanity homes in Harlan. Glenn enjoyed staying busy and between working as a handy man, playing golf, attending the races at the Shelby Co Speedway, he especially enjoyed attending the Harlan High School basketball and football games, where he was in charge of shooting the cannon before every Harlan game.
Glenn’s faith and family were most important to him. He served in many different capacities through the years in the church. Time spent with his kids, grandchildren, and great grandchildren was enjoyed and has left them a lot of memories.
Glenn died on January 11, 2014 at his home in Harlan having attained the age of ninety years, eight months, twenty-two days. In addition to his parents, Glenn was preceded in death by his brother Dale and sister Elaine. He is survived by his wife of sixty-nine years, Rosalie French of Harlan, Iowa; his children Judi and her husband Kelly Doonan of Harlan, John and his wife Shelly of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Stan and his wife Rebecca of Boise, Idaho, and Dave and his wife Amy of La Jolla, California, twelve grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, brother-in-law Dale Arentson and his wife Phyllis, nieces and nephews, and other relatives and friends.
Pastor Dan Hawn officiated the 2:00 PM funeral service on Monday, January 13, 2014 at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan, Iowa. Helen Warren accompanist vocalist Jim Swensen. Serving as casket bearers were Travis French, Tracy French, Jake Smith, Katie Minear, Matt French, Stace Doonan, Greg Doonan, and Makayla Ferrera. Military Rites were provided at the Harlan Cemetery by the Harlan American Legion Helmer Reyelt Post No. 150 and Shelby County VFW Post No. 941.
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Glenn served his country as a 2nd Lt. in the Army Air Corp. Upon discharge he returned to Harlan to start farming on the family farm. They farmed 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 on Chatburn Ave at the site currently occupied by Casey’s gas station. In 1967 Glenn pursued a new career in the Grain Industry. He accepted a job with Allied Mills to assume the role as Manager of the elevator in Sigourney, Iowa. Management positions with MFA and then Cenex took him to Warsaw and Higginsville, Missouri and River Falls, Wisconsin before he and Rosalie retired in 1988 in Harlan.
During retirement Glenn stayed active doing various projects including interim management duties at various Grain Elevators throughout the Midwest. He also served as supervisor for the construction of three Habitat for Humanity homes in Harlan. Glenn enjoyed staying busy and between working as a handy man, playing golf, attending the races at the Shelby Co Speedway, he especially enjoyed attending the Harlan High School basketball and football games, where he was in charge of shooting the cannon before every Harlan game.
Glenn’s faith and family were most important to him. He served in many different capacities through the years in the church. Time spent with his kids, grandchildren, and great grandchildren was enjoyed and has left them a lot of memories.
Glenn died on January 11, 2014 at his home in Harlan having attained the age of ninety years, eight months, twenty-two days. In addition to his parents, Glenn was preceded in death by his brother Dale and sister Elaine. He is survived by his wife of sixty-nine years, Rosalie French of Harlan, Iowa; his children Judi and her husband Kelly Doonan of Harlan, John and his wife Shelly of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Stan and his wife Rebecca of Boise, Idaho, and Dave and his wife Amy of La Jolla, California, twelve grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, brother-in-law Dale Arentson and his wife Phyllis, nieces and nephews, and other relatives and friends.
Pastor Dan Hawn officiated the 2:00 PM funeral service on Monday, January 13, 2014 at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan, Iowa. Helen Warren accompanist vocalist Jim Swensen. Serving as casket bearers were Travis French, Tracy French, Jake Smith, Katie Minear, Matt French, Stace Doonan, Greg Doonan, and Makayla Ferrera. Military Rites were provided at the Harlan Cemetery by the Harlan American Legion Helmer Reyelt Post No. 150 and Shelby County VFW Post No. 941.
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