Glenna Sue Grohe

Glenna Sue Grohe was a beautiful person. She was a Midwesterner, being born February 24, 1941, in Hannibal, Missouri, and living most of her life in Des Moines. Her parents were Herbert and Edna Fagan. Her father owned and operated a handful of grocery stores in rural northeast Missouri, while her mother was a devoted homemaker. She resided in Philadelphia, Missouri in her early years, graduating from Philadelphia-Emerson High School in 1959 and then from Hannibal LaGrange Junior College and from Kirksville (Northeast Missouri State) College.

Glenna started out as a high school English teacher in Burlington, Iowa. She looked so young that she was mistaken, more than once, as a high school student, rather than as a teacher. She met her future husband, Ron, in Burlington. They were married there in 1964 and lived in Burlington, Moberly, Missouri, and Cedar Falls, Iowa, before moving to Des Moines in 1968. Glenna and Ron had three sons, each of which they were very proud. The sons are all married and all have children, Mark (Amy) with Katie and Mason are in Hinsdale, Illinois, Matthew (Jeanette) with Esden, Lena and Nolden are in Des Moines and Andrew (Megan) with Eva, Jackson and McKinley are in St. Charles, Illinois.

Glenna’s priority, in her early married years, was her family. She believed in proper nutrition and exercise for all of them. Vacations emphasized camping and travel to many different American locations and to some foreign countries.

Glenna had an interest in mission through the Presbyterian church and frequent guests in the home came from various parts of the world. Glenna was interested in people in general and developed solid, long-lasting friendships with many women that she met on her life’s journey.

In the late 70’s Glenna felt a calling to further her education to become a Mental Health Therapist. She started slowly by enrolling at Drake University, taking a few courses at a time and, eventually, on March 13, 1981, she received her Master of Science degree. She then secured a part-time job with West Central Mental Health Services in Adel, Iowa, where she worked both part and full-time as a therapist until her retirement in 2005. She enjoyed her work but was ready to retire and relax for the final third of her life. Her tranquility was interrupted when she contracted and was overcome by the dreaded disease of Alzheimer’s in late 2009 and early 2010. She struggled mightily with her illness while residing at Senior Suites of Urbandale where she received excellent care for the last seven plus years until her death there on June 1, 2020.

Glenna is survived by her husband, Ron; their sons and their families as listed above; and her sister, Nancy (Neil) Reese of Flint Hill, Missouri. She was preceded in death by her parents. Glenna’s body will be cremated through arrangements with Hamilton’s Funeral Home.

Memorials may be contributed to Windsor Presbyterian Church, 6301 University Avenue, Windsor Heights, IA 50324, where a memorial service will take place later in the summer.

Print