Glen LeRoy Stanley: Born to Orin Henry and Pearl Ora Stanley, July 13th, 1917, in Decatur County Iowa, joined a loving God on August 3rd, 2015. A gathering of friends and family will be 9:30- 11:00 a.m. with an 11:00 a.m. funeral service on Saturday August 8th, 2015 at Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care, 414 Lincoln Way in Ames.
Glen attended country grammar school and High School at Decatur City and Leon, Iowa. Glen and his brother, Lloyd and sister, Leota, walked 2 miles to county school every day. He often said, "We were well served by making that effort." He loved school and was a lifelong learner. During those years Glen attended church at Elk Chapel country church. When church was no longer held there, Glen went to Sunday school and church in Leon. He often was ask to play the banjo in the church orchestra and sing in the choir.
At a very early age he assisted his father with his beekeeping enterprise along with farm chores. He continued with farming until joining his father in the beekeeping business in 1937. In 1938, he and his father and brother, Lloyd formed a partnership and in 1939 they built the Honey Processing Plant on Main Street in Gilbert. The Stanley Brother's harvested and processed 250,000 lbs. of honey in 1941, shipping it by rail to many locations. Working with his brother for 58 years were the most wonderful years of his life.
Glen joined the United States Army, January 12, 1942 to January 12, 1946. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge.
In 1949, he was hired by the Iowa Department of Agriculture to serve as Apiary Inspector. In 1961, he was appointed Director of the Apiary Division where he remained until his retirement in 1988 at 72 years of age. During those 39 years, with the cooperation of Iowa beekeepers he was able to improve the quality of beekeeping and honey production. He did more for the Beekeeping industry than had ever been done by any Iowan. During those years, Glen set up the elaborate honey bee display at the Iowa State Fair and enjoyed telling everyone about the importance of the honeybee. He was a dedicated Apiarist becoming one of the most sought after honey bee educators in the mid-west as well as Europe. He wrote many articles for the Bee Journal and received many honors for his efforts.
Glen was a kind, gracious, and humble man whose character was defined by his genuineness and his wonderful sense of humor. He enjoyed spending time with his friends, playing the banjo, and sharing knowledge concerning the importance of the honey bees.
Glen was preceded in death by his wife, Gladys, sister, Leota and brother, Lloyd.
He is survived by one step son, Robert Granson and two grandsons, Greg, wife Stacey and children, Emily Jolynn, Bethann and Faith , also, Marc Granson from TX. His nephew's, Lyle Stanley, Kris Stanley and wife Jan and family. Many friends and his special friend, Jan, who he thought of as his own daughter and her loving family.
Memorials may be directed to your charity of choice.
Online condolences may be directed to www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com