James Joseph Glentzer
October 23, 1923 — February 7, 2022
James Joseph Glentzer “Papa Cookie” passed away February 7, 2022 at the age of 98.
He was born to Frances (Fanny) Glentzer nee’ Feehan and James Glentzer on October 23, 1923 in Wapello County, Iowa. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II training to be a pilot, was medically disqualified, so he went on to become a simulator instructor. He was honorably discharged in 1946. Shortly after, he met the love of his life, Wanda Marie Mika and they married January 26, 1947. He worked at the John Morrel Plant in Ottumwa, but soon decided he wanted to farm, first in the Indianola and Knoxville areas, before they settled on a farm outside of Pleasantville. He eventually left farming and obtained an associate degree in accounting from AIB College in Des Moines. He went to work for a John Deere dealership in Oskaloosa before finally taking a job with the VA Hospital in Knoxville. He retired in 1986.
He and Wanda had many great years of retirement together, including traveling the American West. They enjoyed wintering in southwestern Texas for 25 years. They enjoyed 72 years together, until Wanda passed away in 2019.
James is survived by his children: Carol (Rusty) Burson, Phyllis (Alan) Shoop, and Christopher (Nansea) Glentzer; 6 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; his brother, Gene Glentzer and his sister-in-law, Mildred Patrick.
He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Leo, Frances, Raymond, John, Mabel Bedner, Kathryn Riggs, Helen Musselman and Mary Yensick.
Jim had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to hear a good joke, although his retelling of it was never quite as well delivered as the original.
The family asks that any donations be made in memory of Jim to the Pink Tractor Foundation https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=MQHT5C98FA928&source=url or to the American Legion Post 108 in Pleasantville. Lunch will follow the service at the upper floor of Memorial Hal, 102 North Jefferson, Pleasantville, IA 50225.
He was born to Frances (Fanny) Glentzer nee’ Feehan and James Glentzer on October 23, 1923 in Wapello County, Iowa. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II training to be a pilot, was medically disqualified, so he went on to become a simulator instructor. He was honorably discharged in 1946. Shortly after, he met the love of his life, Wanda Marie Mika and they married January 26, 1947. He worked at the John Morrel Plant in Ottumwa, but soon decided he wanted to farm, first in the Indianola and Knoxville areas, before they settled on a farm outside of Pleasantville. He eventually left farming and obtained an associate degree in accounting from AIB College in Des Moines. He went to work for a John Deere dealership in Oskaloosa before finally taking a job with the VA Hospital in Knoxville. He retired in 1986.
He and Wanda had many great years of retirement together, including traveling the American West. They enjoyed wintering in southwestern Texas for 25 years. They enjoyed 72 years together, until Wanda passed away in 2019.
James is survived by his children: Carol (Rusty) Burson, Phyllis (Alan) Shoop, and Christopher (Nansea) Glentzer; 6 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; his brother, Gene Glentzer and his sister-in-law, Mildred Patrick.
He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Leo, Frances, Raymond, John, Mabel Bedner, Kathryn Riggs, Helen Musselman and Mary Yensick.
Jim had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to hear a good joke, although his retelling of it was never quite as well delivered as the original.
The family asks that any donations be made in memory of Jim to the Pink Tractor Foundation https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=MQHT5C98FA928&source=url or to the American Legion Post 108 in Pleasantville. Lunch will follow the service at the upper floor of Memorial Hal, 102 North Jefferson, Pleasantville, IA 50225.
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