In Memory of Glenn R Lorenzen

Glenn R. Lorenzen, age 87, of Ida Grove, Iowa passed away on Friday, February 20, 2015 at Horn Memorial Hospital of Ida Grove, Iowa.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, February 24, 2015, at the Silver Creek United Methodist Church of rural Galva, Iowa. The Reverend Kristin D. Boysen will officiate. Burial will be in the Galva Township East Cemetery with Military Rites conducted by the Dibbern Post No. 454 of the American Legion both of Galva, Iowa. Visitation will be held on Monday, February 23, 2015 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Christensen – Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa. The Christensen ~ Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online to www.christensenvanhouten.com  

Glenn R. Lorenzen was born on August 9, 1927 in the Silver Creek Township, Iowa to Clifford and Lulu (Clapsaddle) Lorenzen. He attended country school and graduated from Ida Grove High School in 1944. Glenn enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1945. The highlight of his service years, was being chosen to play football for the Army when stationed in Austria, Germany. He also played tackle when he was in high school, fellow team mates described him as “an excellent tackle and huge asset to the team”.

After the war, Glenn returned home to the farm. Glenn started taking flying lessons and enjoyed piloting his small plane until air time interfered with golfing. Eventually Glenn owned his own farm and built a new house with the help of his brothers. His unique and creative mind also designed and built his own nine hole golf course, with three golf greens on his homestead, so friends and family could come to play golf young and old. He even held tournaments. Glenn also designed and created an auger system for feeding cattle on the farm.

Glenn married Leatrice Joy on August 30, 1969 in Cushing, Iowa. Leatrice taught school in Odebolt, Iowa, so the couple enjoyed traveling around the U.S in the summer time in their camper. They traveled to Canada for the fishing and golf courses and to Alaska. The couple also made a trip back to Austria, Germany.

Glenn built a home in Sun Lakes, Arizona in 1980, so that he would be able to play golf all year round. He was a champion in both Arizona and Iowa. Leatrice passed away unexpectedly on December 3, 2000. Glenn enjoyed playing cards and met Elaine Rush from the Kansas City area while playing bridge in Arizona.

The couple married on August 17, 2002.  The couple continued to split their time between Arizona and Iowa. They enjoyed camping, fishing and going on cruises to the Panama Canal, Hawaii, and Alaska. Glenn also like ISU sports.

No matter where the couple were at they found a church family. Glenn was very supportive of the Silver Creek United Methodist Church to keep it going for the young farm families.

Glenn was a very patriotic and conservative man. The couple was also associate members and active in the Sun Lake Methodist Church in Arizona.

Glenn was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, but that did not slow him down, he remained active especially going out to the farm and golfing. The “old Timers” was the last thing he gave up but he never lost interest. Always asking to know the corn and bean market and the latest golf scores.

He liked playing cards with his family and Elaine at Golden Horizons and up to the last days before he left Morningside Health Care Community with the flu and complications.

Glenn will be remembered as a kind, caring, generous, gentleman, who loved his Lord, family and the golf course.

Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife Elaine Lorenzen of Ida Grove, Iowa; step children, Linda Rush of Fort Worth, Texas; Kathy (Jim) Ingram of Lenexa, Kansas; David (Libby) Rush of Springfield, Missouri; three step grandchildren and one step great grandchild; brothers, Marvin (Phyllis) Lorenzen of Ida Grove, Iowa; Marc (Gleneva) Lorenzen of Arthur, Iowa; aunt, Hazel (Lorenzen) McCollough of Holstein, Iowa; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, great nieces, great nephews, family and friends.

Glenn was preceded in death by his parents, first wife, Leatrice Lorenzen, and sister Verna Letson.