John Edward & Diana Owen Glenn

  John Edward Glenn was born to Roy Eugene Glenn and Elizabeth King Glenn December 5, 1951 in Centerville, Iowa. An older sister, Mary Ann, and his mother were killed July 7, 1953 in a train-automobile crash west of Jerome. On November 21, 1954 John gained a loving and caring step-mother when his father married Patricia Joann Jones (their history appears elsewhere). To this union, tow sons, Timothy and Danny, and two daughters, Kimberly and Cheryl, were born. John and his brothers and sisters grew up on a farm northwest of Plano in Johns Township.

  John attended elementary school at Promise City, Iowa and junior and senior high school at Seymour Community School. While in school, he was active in various activities including band, sports and 4-H. After graduating in 1970, he attended Indian Hills Community College and Northeast Missouri State College where he graduated in 1974 with a B.S. degree in law enforcement. Here he was a member of the Sig Tau Gamma fraternity and Blue Key Organization.

  After graduation from NMSU, he began working for the Rathbun Regional Water Association where he is presently the Distribution Superintendent there.

  On August 26, 1978 John was married to Diana Lynn Owen in an outdoor wedding ceremony at her parents' home 1/4 mile west of Jerome.

  Diana Lynn Owen was born December 21, 1950 in Centerville to Kenneth Ervin Owen and Frances Hamm Owen (their history appears elsewhere). She joined an older brother, Keith Ernest Owen, who was born August 28, 1943. Diana grew up on the same farm her father was raised. She went to Jerome Public School until it closed in 1959. Then she went to Promise City School and attended junior and senior high school at Seymour Community Schools. While in school, Diana was active in several extra-curricular activities including band, vocal music and the National Honor Society. After graduation in 1969, she attended the University of Northern Iowa majoring in Home Economics and Business. After completing school in 1973, she began work at Norris Motors in Centerville where she remained until 1980.

  John and Diana are presently living in a home they built in 1979 located on land given to them by her parents. It is part of the first 80 acres purchased by her parents in 1938. The home is partially surrounded by pine trees planted by Kenneth Owen in the late 1950s. They are raising two children, a daughter, Whitney Elizabeth, born August 23, 1982, and a son, John Roy born November 2, 1983. Besides working at RRWA, John is engaged in farming and a cow-calf operation. 

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  Text transcribed with permission from the Appanoose County Historical Society from Appanoose County Iowa, written by the people of Appanoose County, compiled in 1984-1985 by the Appanoose County Historical Society, and printed by Taylor Publishing Co., Dallis, Texas (1986).