Gary Paul Glanzer
June 10, 2010
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Service Details
Gary Paul Glanzer, 68, of West Des Moines, IA, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on June 10, 2010. He was loved and respected by all who knew him.
Gary was born April 17, 1942, in Mitchell, SD, to Harris and Gladys Glanzer. He grew up in Kimball, SD, and his family later moved to Sioux Falls, SD, where he graduated from high school in 1960. After graduation, he joined the Air Force. He received his Bachelor of Science in Economics from Drake University in 1968. Gary married Dianne in November 1973. They lived in Norwalk, IA, for 25 years and recently moved to West Des Moines.
In his earlier years, Gary was a competitive weight lifter and bodybuilder. As a pioneer in the Des Moines fitness industry, Gary owned and operated the Des Moines Athletic Center from 1972 – 1985. During this time period, he sponsored various bodybuilding and power lifting competitions in the Des Moines area including Mr. Iowa. Gary founded and sponsored the Central States Bodybuilding and Power Lifting competition. He also founded Iowa’s first women’s bodybuilding competition, the Ms. Iowa contest. He served as the Iowa Chairman of the National Physique Committee of the U.S.A. In 1986, he started Fitness World West and served as the General Manager for approximately ten years until he retired.
Gary deeply loved his family, his country, and most of all, his blessed Savior Jesus Christ.
Gary is survived by his wife, Dianne; sister, Jeanine Hummel (Curt) of Mesa, AZ; brother, James Glanzer (Jane) of Kenner, LA; two sons, Sean Glanzer (Kelli) of Panora, IA, Ryan Glanzer (Ann Kindwall) of Waukee, IA; and two grandchildren, Kolton and Katarina Louk of Panora, IA.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Harris and Gladys Glanzer, father-in-law, Hugh Frazier and mother-in-law, Coline Frazier.
Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., Monday, June 14, 2010, with family present from 5-7 p.m. at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, IA. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, June 15, 2010, at Westkirk Presbyterian Church, 2700 Colby Woods Drive in Urbandale. A private inurnment will be at Iowa Veteran’s Cemetery at a later date.
Memorial contributions can be made to Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) Food Pantry. Online condolences may be made to www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.
David E. Archibald
05/05/2022
I met Gary when I went to Drake and my friends John Dale and Chris Kern brought me to work out at the Des Moines athletic club. What a great guy and super helpful with our workouts and lives! Glad to know he was a Christian.
Dave Songstad
01/05/2014
I, too, just found Gary's obituary and need to express my condolences to his family. I met Gary at Fitness World West as one of his customers. We became friends and shared our Christian faith. I remember calling Gary before we moved to Saint Louis in 1997 to say "goodbye". We now live in San Diego and I look forward to seeing Gary again in heaven.
Dan Conrad
06/27/2012
Even after two years I would be remiss if I didn't offer my condolences. I was a long time member of DMAC and had the time of my life visiting and working out in that old club. Gary was a great guy and dedicated to fitness and the center. I moved from Iowa in 1983 but would still visit Gary downtown and then out in WDM. I am very sorry to learn of his passing.
Stephanie Hungate
06/15/2010
I'm sorry to hear of your loss and my thoughts and prayers are with your family. I have been a friend of Ryan's for a few years now and I know how much family means to him. Gary and Dianne raised a wonderful son and seeing the kind of man Ryan is speaks volumes for the type of man Gary was. Gary was a strong foundation for the family and left part of him in his family. God Bless.
Asad Syed & family
06/15/2010
Please accept our sincere condolences. Ryan, our thoughts and prayers are with are with you and your family. God bless you courage during this time of great loss and sadness.
Wayne and Phyllis Swanson
06/15/2010
Diane and family, We miss you as neighbors and were so sad and shocked to read of Gary's death. Please know you are in our thoughts and prayers. God's peace be with you all.
Jeff & Allison Halvorson
06/14/2010
Our sympathy to all of family. Thought a lot of Gary and always enjoyed being around him. We always had fun working together at New Life.
Will try to make visitation, but am recovering from back surgery and have not made car ride yet so will see how it goes.
Mark Babcock
06/14/2010
Please accept my sincere condolences during this time of sadness. May you cherish the wonderful memories and times shared with Gary Glanzer. May you know God's rich grace and peace. Know that you are in the thoughts and prayers of the members of St. Mark Lutheran Church. God's peace, Mark
Shirley & Bill Gardner
06/14/2010
Dianne, Sean, and Ryan,
It is with sadness that we saw Gary's death in the paper. However, it also reminded us of a family that we think of and wonder how you are, where the boys are and what they are doing.
Dianne, you met a lot to Bill and I at Grant Park Christian Church and we enjoyed seeing your boys grown up as ours were.
Gary was a person who gaave a positive attitude to the young people he worked with and Jeff dearly loved working out at "Garys".
Our prayers are with you and your family .
Bill and Shirley
Sangeetha & Vijay
06/14/2010
Ryan & Ann,
Our deepest condolences. You and your family will be in our prayers.
Courtney
06/14/2010
Ann, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Kay Tannatt
06/14/2010
Back in 1977, my boyfriend introduced me to Gary while working out at the Des Moines Athletic Center. We still talk about the gym and reminscence about the 'good ole days.' My current friend worked out at the club also and that was a topic of discussion when we first met. It still is at the gym we now work out in. So many people knew Gary and the Athletic Center! What great memories of a man who had a passion and vision for fitness in the greater Des Moines area.
We are so sorry to hear of your loss!
Jeff Gardner
06/13/2010
It has been many years ago that I knew Gary, but from time to time for some reason I thought of him. He was one of the "good ones". I always appreciated his undying belief in fitness. My sympathies go out to his surving family, particularly his wife Diane, and sons Sean and Ryan who I also knew all those years ago. I wish them to receive God's help during the process of grieving and healing.
_JeffGardner
Michele Sundholm
06/13/2010
Saw Gary's obituary in today's paper. So sorry to hear that he passed. He was my first boss at Fitness World West years ago. I learned a lot from him. A few years after I started to work at FWW, we purchased a house in Lakewood - becoming neighbors (somewhat). Then, we became members of Gary and Dianne's church. Gary always had a strong faith and a great sense of humor. We send our condolences and prayers!
Michele, Jeff, Alex and Jacob Sundholm
AUNT PEGGY
06/13/2010
ANN AND RYAN, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW YOU ARE IN MY PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS. I AM SO VERY SORRY. THIS IS A TOUGH TIME AND I AM GLAD YOU HAVE EACH OTHER AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS. I LOVE YOU AND KNOW I WISH I WAS THERE TO HELP YOU. LOVE ALWAYS, AUNT PEGGY