Glenn Van Essen

Glenn Van Essen, age 86, of Leota, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on February 28, 2026, at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage. He knew that Jesus was his Savior and his sins were forgiven. Glenn entered his eternal home and was reunited with his parents and the eight siblings who preceded him in death.

Glenn was born on September 13, 1939, the eleventh child of William and Hattie (Pool) Van Essen, on the Vander Ziel farm near Leota. On the day of his birth, his four sisters were sent to neighbors for the day, and his older brothers were sent out to work. When they returned home, they were greeted with the surprise of another baby brother. The next year, 1940, the family moved to the farm one-half mile east of Leota, where Glenn lived and worked for the rest of his life.

He attended Leota Christian School and graduated from Southwest Christian High School in Edgerton. Glenn made profession of faith at Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church, now known as Leota Community Church, where he remained a member until the present date. In 1962, Glenn completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, also training in Alaska, served in the Army National Air, then three years in the Air National Guard.

In the summer of 1961, Glenn met, Jeri Kleyn of Lester, Iowa, at a Dutchmen’s roller- skating party in George, Iowa. They were united in marriage on August 9, 1963, in Rock Rapids, Iowa, on a stifling summer day. Together they built a life rooted in faith, family, and farming, including dairy farming for 45 years. They were blessed with four children: Lisa, Mark, Scott, and Lynae.

Glenn served as both an elder and deacon at Ebenezer CRC. He also served as a member of the Edgerton Elevator Board. He rarely missed the local Dutch Festival and took many four- wheeler rides to check crops. He had numerous canine companions, including: Collie “Jack”; German Shepherd “Cindy”; Cocker Spaniels “Bear” and “Goldie”; Chow “Cinder”; Pomeranians “Taffy” and “Pookie”; and his most recent rescue dog, “Joey.” Glenn built Joey a custom dog- house last July, 2025 before he picked him out at the Sioux Falls Humane Society. Among his most cherished memories were family trail-riding trips to the Black Hills, Lake Okoboji boat rides, and Leota 4 th of July celebrations. Winter months were spent attending many basketball games—more recently watching from home online.

Glenn was preceded in death by his parents, William and Hattie, sister Margaret Vander Lugt, brother-in-law Peter Vander Lugt; brother Oscar Van Essen, sister-in-law Celia Van Essen; brother Henry Van Essen, sister-in-law Betty Van Essen; brother Marvin Van Essen, sister-in-law Vi Van Essen; sister Trena Van Dyke, brother-in-law Lance Van Dyke; sister Emily Beukelman; brother Willard Van Essen, sister-in-law Arlene Van Essen; brother-in-law Nick DeBoer; brother. Lester Van Essen; brother-in-law Dale Coy; and brother-in-law Conrad DeGroot.

He is lovingly remembered and survived by his wife of 62 years, Jeri; his children Lisa (Dan) Niemeyer of Hardwick, Minnesota; Mark (Amy) Van Essen of Leota, Minnesota; Scott (Desiree) Van Essen of Sioux Center, Iowa; and Lynae (Dave) Dreessen of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; his grandchildren: Dayne (Nicole) Niemeyer, Bella Niemeyer; Tanna (Ryan) Van Essen Soukup, Trey (Kaitlin) Van Essen, Tucker Van Essen, Tya Van Essen; Georgia Van Essen, Eli Van Essen, Beau Van Essen; Maysa Dreessen, Mia Dreessen, and Finn Dreessen; and four great- grandchildren: Lydia and Wesley Van Essen; Lennon Niemeyer; and Lainey Soukup. Glenn is also survived by his two siblings, Cynthia DeBoer and Ivan Essen; brother-in-law Johnny Beukelman and sister-in-law Elaine Van Essen.

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