"Cherished Memories - I remember: Visiting Uncle Glenn's shop in the afternoons after school and spending time with him and Grandpa Earl learning how electrical stuff worked. Walking to his house across the street and looking in awe at his wireless set upstairs, and his jars full of pennies. Spending quiet time with him just reminiscing about the family. Watching him hop into the front seat of my plane ("contraption") to go for his last ride - as excited and spry as a 9 year old - at the age of 95. I was lucky to have Glenn in my life and will miss him. "
In loving memory of
Glenn Guengerich
May 24, 1916 - October 11, 2017
WELLMAN - Glenn Wayland Guengerich was born May 24, 1916 in Plainview, Texas, the son of Joel and Magdalena (Yoder) Guengerich. He graduated from Wellman High School in 1935, and from Coyne Electrical School in Chicago in 1940. He served in Civilian Public Service in Fort Collins, CO; Ypsilanti, MI; and Malcolm, NE. On June 21, 1942 Glenn was united in marriage to Elsie Miller in a double wedding with her sister Lydia and his brother Harold at the Wellman Mennonite Church. They made their home in the Wellman community where Glenn worked as an electrician and owned Hawkeye Electric. In 2008 he was awarded Iowa's Outstanding Older Worker award. He was a charter member of the Wellman Mennonite Church and a member of the Jolly Men's Club. He served on the Wellman Fire Department for over 50 years. He volunteered with Mennonite Disaster Service, Iowa Mennonite Relief Sale and the Mennonite Historical Society. He enjoyed traveling and genealogy. Glenn passed away on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 in Wellman at the age of 101 years.
Glenn is survived by his wife Elsie of Wellman; three daughters: Millicent Hershey of Lancaster, PA; Becky (Dean) Rhodes of Goshen, IN; Anna Marie Guengerich (Jim Yoder) of Wellman; five grandchildren; Matthew (Tamar Bernfeld) Rhodes; Steven (Liz) Rhodes; David (Jessica Zieg) Rhodes; Jenelle (Keith) Hoover; and Julie Hershey; and five great grandchildren: Amaya and Simone Rhodes; and Levi, Sophia, and Jacob Hoover. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Edna Stoltzfus, and four brothers Earl, Albert, Willard, and Harold Guengerich.
Graveside Service will be held at 9:30 AM Thursday, October 19, 2017, in the Wellman Mennonite Cemetery followed by a Memorial Service at 11:00 AM at the Wellman Mennonite Church. Pastor Nathan Ramer will officiate. Visitation will be held from 2-8 PM on Wednesday, October 18, 2017 at the Powell Funeral Home in Wellman where the family will greet friends from 2-4 and 6-8 PM. A memorial fund has been established for Mennonite Disaster Service and Wellman Fire Department. The Powell Funeral Home in Wellman is caring for Glenn and his family.
Tributes
"I remember sharing the basement of a guest house of MCC in Akron, PA with Glen and Wilbur Swartzendruber back in the 90s. We were attending a Relief Sale Workshop. I believe this was the first time I met Glen. I enjoyed his humor. I would often speak with him when I attended the Iowa Relief Sale. May God comfort all who mourn. May your memories sustain you now and into the future. Peace. Richard Wildermuth, auctioneer"
"Thinking of all the family during this time of loss. Grandpa (Willard) always enjoyed visits with Glenn so much, whether in Colorado or Iowa. I always enjoyed hearing stories from Aunt Edna and Grandpa about the Guengerich family's years of growing up in Iowa and Texas. Uncle Glenn is an inspiration, that he kept working and volunteering year after year. Lisa (Guengerich) Detweiler"
"Oh my, so sorry to hear of Glenn's passing. He was actually my first employer (other than temporary farm help). I drove bus for him and also worked at Hawkeye Electric. Had a lot of fun and learned a lot from this man. "
"I am sorry to hear of Glenn's passing. I will always remember his humor and kindness. After living one hundred years, I would love to listen to the story of his life."
"So sorry to hear of Glenn's passing. Glenn was my step grandmother, Susannah (Susie) Guengerich Kuhn's nephew. My mother, Lucille Kuhns Kempf, suffered from dementia in her later years. When she was at Pleasantview, Glenn and Elsie stopped to visit her. Mom didn't speak much by this time. Mom kept looking around the room and Glenn asked her why she wouldn't look at him. Mom replied, "You never were much to look at." This really tickled Glenn and he had a good laugh over that remark. Mom and Dad were friends of them since they attended the same church at one time and shared a family connection. Glenn was a character and many people enjoyed his humor. No doubt he will be missed by all those who knew him."
"In the mid 70's, Anna Marie, Carol & myself went to a small Park Fair in Coralville. At the end of the evening we walked a couple blocks back to the car, only to discover we had lost the keys to the Gingerich family car. After looking for the keys for about a half hour, including a stick and a couple of mud holes, no keys were found. By this time, it was dark and this was way before cell phones, so we walked another couple of blocks looking for a phone. After much ado, we found a police car and they called to Glenn & Elsie's home in Wellman. There was not a second set of keys, so Glenn came up in his work van to pick us up. We rode back to the Cheese Factory sitting on boxes of electric supplies. Diana (Ropp) Miller "
"So very sorry to hear of Glen's passing. We just saw him Sunday at the Parkview's church service. Will miss seeing him there every Sunday. Our prayers and love go out to the family. Keith and Cindy Dickel"
"So sorry to hear this news today! Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire family. Much love, Melanie and Bob Stutzman"