Glenn Janssen

Glenn H. Janssen, 90, of Arlington, Iowa, died on Friday morning, July 23, 2021, at Maple Crest Manor in Fayette, Iowa.

Funeral Service were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 28, 2021, at the Community Bible Church in Strawberry Point, Iowa with Pastor Bruce Klett officiating.

Visitation was 4-8 p.m.. Tuesday, July 27, 2021, at the Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Arlington and for one hour before the service at the church on Wednesday.

Interment:  Taylorsville Cemetery, Arlington, Iowa with military honors.

Memorials may be directed to the Arlington Ambulance Service and Fayette County Historical Society.

Online obituary at www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com 

Glenn Howard Janssen of Arlington, Iowa passed away on July 23, 2021 at 90 years of age.  Glenn was a man of faith who led his family in the ways of the Lord.  He loved the land and loved farming. Glenn valued hard work, but he also enjoyed camping, fishing, and playing board games and cards with his family and friends.

Highlights of extra-curricular activities included attending his grandchildren’s sporting events and going graveling in northeast Iowa. Glenn’s unique leadership abilities enabled him to contribute to the community in many capacities.  He will be remembered as one who was willing to give of his time and help others in a time of need.    

Glenn was the son of John and Greta (Tarman) Janssen and was born at the family home south of Minonk, Illinois on April 29, 1931. He grew up on a farm.  After graduating from Minonk Community High School, Glenn served in the Korean War as a Platoon Sergeant and Ranger Mountain Climbing Supervisor, advancing to Intelligence. After the war ended, Glenn was honored with the National Defense Service Medal. 

Following his military service, Glenn completed two years of GI school before returning to Minonk to farm. On November 24, 1957, he married Laura May Wilson at the Quaker Meeting House in McNabb, Illinois. In January of 1960, Glenn and Laura May packed their belongings in the 1948 Federal truck along with their 1 1/2-year-old daughter, Jeanie, and moved to a run-down farmstead west of Arlington, Iowa.  Glenn spent the next few years improving the farmstead, serving his community and country, and raising his family in a Christian home. 

At Maynard Presbyterian Church, Glenn served as an elder and Sunday school teacher.  While attending Strawberry Point Community Bible Church, he served on the building and missionary committees, and helped with the Awana’s program. 

Glenn served on the West Central School Board for nine years; six of those years as president.  The Friend of Education Award was given to Glenn after having served on the Keystone Area Education Agency Board of Directors from 1981 – 1984. The committee for Reroute Crude Oil (RCO), on which Glenn was Chairman of Fayette County RCO and State Vice President of Iowa RCO for several years, eventually won the confrontation with the pipeline. Glenn served on the board of directors for Homeland Bank and served on the Upper Iowa University President’s Council.

The Future Farmers of America Outstanding Citizen Award was bestowed to Glenn for his service on the Farm Bureau Board.  He and Laura May were once featured on KWWL as the family of the week. 

As a citizen, Glenn served on the Republican Central Committee and was the Smithfield Township Director. He helped to organize the Fayette County Soybean Association and served as president of the association before becoming director of the American Soybean Association in 1999, and president of the Iowa Soybean Association from 2000-2001.

The Soybean Leadership Award was given to Glenn for his service on the Iowa Soybean Association Board from 1993-2002. He also served in organizations such as the American Legion Post #219, Iowa Corn Growers, Farm Bureau, Pork Producers, Fellowship of Christian Farmers, Fayette County Tourism Board, and Fayette County Historical Society.

Glenn is survived by his wife, Laura May; two daughters, Dr. Jean (Howard) Graham of Foley, AL and Jane (Jim) Koch of Stanwood, IA; and two sons, Jerry Janssen of Fayette, Iowa and Jon (Stacie) Janssen of Arlington, Iowa. Glenn had ten grandchildren; Joshua, Caleb, and Jamin; Parker and Madison; Brady, Colton, and Regan; and four great-grandchildren; Ellie, Georgia, Sloane, and Sutton plus numerous nieces, nephews and a host of friends. 

Glenn was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and one sister. 

Glenn has left this world, but we are confident in the Lord that we will all be together again one day.