Glenn Harvey Freese, age 93, of Vail, IA, passed away on Sunday, February 23, 2025.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Friday, February 28, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church in Vail with Rev. Kevin Freese officiating. Music will be by Kevin and Kurt Freese. Casket bearers will be his grandsons Justin Freese, Dr. Jarred Freese, Eric Argotsinger, Colin Freese, Christopher Freese, Thomas Winkelman, and Joseph Winkelman. Honorary casket bearers will be his granddaughters Mia Freese, Lori Jones, Keri Zimmer, Paige Winkelman, Olivia Wulf, and Elyssa Freese. Burial will be in the Wheatland Cemetery near Breda.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 27, 2025 from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. at the First Presbyterian Church in Vail. Visitation will resume Friday morning at 9:30 A.M. until 10:15 A.M.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com.
Memorials will be directed to Heifer International through the family.
Glenn Harvey Freese was born on the family farm, Wheatland Township, Breda, Iowa, March 20, 1931, the son of Harvey Berend and Martha (Rix) Freese. The family purchased a farm south of Westside, IA and moved there in 1943 when Glenn was the age of 12. Glenn graduated from Westside High School with the class of 1948. Following high school, he farmed with his parents.
On May 27, 1951, Glenn was united in marriage to Donna Mae Bandow at the Presbyterian Church in Manilla, Iowa. Their union was blessed with the birth of five children, Kevin, Beth, Kary, Barbara, and Kurt. They made their home on a rented farm south of Westside before purchasing the farm in Vail in 1959 and moving there in 1960 during a March 1 blizzard. They resided on the farm until moving to their home in Vail in 1983. Glenn was a dedicated and proficient farmer, who loved to work and care for the land, his Reg. Holstein dairy herd and many flocks of sheep. He won many local and state soil conservation awards, was named an Iowa Master Farmer (1973) and Iowa Distinguished Dairyman (1981). He also served as a director on the boards of Mid-America Dairymen, Dairy Farmers of America and milk promotion boards on the local, district and national level. Cooperative milk marketing and dairy product promotion were keen interests.
His appreciation of Massey Ferguson tractors created many opportunities to collect and restore several Massey tractors and participate in many tractor rides and shows. He and Donna truly enjoyed their “tractor family” which created many lasting, lifelong friendships.
Having been baptized and confirmed in the Presbyterian Church, Glenn was a long-time dedicated member of the United Presbyterian Church in Vail where he served as Elder, member of the Presbyterian Men, church credit union, committee member and musician. He loved to share his strong tenor voice in the church choir and sang solos for many, many funerals over the years.
Glenn died Sunday evening, February 23, 2025 at Gracewell Eventide Care Center in Denison, Iowa. At the time of his death, he was blessed with 93 years, 11 months and 3 days.
Glenn was preceded in death by his wife Donna (August 22, 2015), son Kary (October 31, 1988), his father Harvey Berend Freese (April 30, 1982), mother Martha Alvine Freese (July 3, 2004) and his two brothers David (July 4, 2022) and Clifford (in infancy).
Those remaining to cherish his memory include his four children and their spouses: Rev. Kevin (Wanda) Freese of Sioux City, Iowa, Beth (Dean) Argotsinger of Denison, Iowa, Barbara (William) Winkelman of Granger, Iowa and Kurt (Rita) Freese of Ida Grove, Iowa; 13 grandchildren: Justin (Janet) Freese of Carroll, Iowa, Dr. Jarred (Hannah) Freese of Montrose, Colorado, Mia Freese of Sioux City, Iowa, Eric (Terri) Argotsinger of Ankeny, Iowa, Lori (Brian) Jones of Westminster, Colorado, Keri (Aric) Zimmer of Underwood, Iowa, Thomas (Kelly) Winkelman of Chicago, Illinois, Joseph (Rhyann) Winkelman of Des Moines, Iowa and Paige Winkelman of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Colin (fiancé Carlie) of Davenport, Iowa, Christopher (fiancé Taylor) of Kansas City, Missouri, Olivia (Jake) Wulf of Lisbon, Iowa, and Elyssa (fiancé Nick Joynt) of Ankeny, Iowa; 10 great grandchildren Emily, Molly, Charlie and Lily Freese, Noah, June, Caleb Freese, Clara Jones, Nora and Abel Zimmer and Katherine Wulf. He is also survived by sister and brothers-in-law Ryta Freese of Carroll, Iowa, Carolyn Lee of Victor, Idaho, Tom & Lois Bandow of Tolleson, Arizona, Bud & Jolene Bandow of Minden, Iowa, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
