John Glesne

John was born on October 26, 1936, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to Otto and Lyla Glesne. He had an older sibling, Martha, and a younger sibling, Ruth, as well as a large extended family.

In June 1955, he graduated from from Fort Dodge Senior High School and attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, for 2 years. He also attended Iowa State University and Fort Dodge Community College. After years of adventure in California and a winter in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota, he married Marianne Folkerts from Manson, Iowa, in 1964 and they had three children Leif, Corrine and Kurt. They divorced in 1976.

John worked in the Fort Dodge Fire Department from 1964 to 1992. He established JOG Fence Company in 1967 which he ran until 1996.

John had a wonderful spirit of imagination and adventure. He was ready to go anywhere, especially a skiing trip. John also had an enviable memory and during the last part of his life he was highly interested in the genealogy of his family and their extended families. He was very proud of his Norwegian roots. He was a regular attendee of any Norwegian supper and many of the Norwegian Lag meetings in the five-state area. He had a sizable collection of items associated with Norway.

He was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge and several of the Norwegian Lags.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Lyla Glesne, and sister, Martha Thompson, brother-in-law, Roland Thompson, and grandson Tyler Glesne.

He is survived by his sister Ruth Peterman and his children Leif Glesne (Patty), Corrine Wenzel (Ron), Kurt Glesne (Dawn), and Kelli West (Richard). He had 13 grandchildren, which include Nick Bailey (Jess), Katy Peart (Josh), Jake Glesne (Bre), Megan Earnest (Larry), Colin Glesne, Emily Glesne, Lauren Wenzel, Ronnie Wenzel (Danielle), Ashley Wenzel, Willard West and Rachel West; and 9 great-grandchildren including Brooklynn, Kennedy, and Madden Bailey; Sophia, and Mia Earnest; Koralyn, Kolton, Oaklyn, and Lilliyn Peart; Wells Glesne, and Ollie Glesne.

Memorial visitation will be held at Gunderson Funeral Home Monday, April 28, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Burial will be in the Hovey Cemetery in Badger, Iowa, in June. 

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Hospice of Fort Dodge.