Glenn Owen Mason

Glenn Owen Mason was born July 19, 1921 near Lucas, Iowa, to Owen and Joanna (Waugh) Mason. Glenn received his education in Clarke County, Iowa, and graduated from Woodburn High School in 1939. After graduation Glenn worked as a surveyor with the Clarke County Engineer. In 1942 he enlisted in the Marine Corps and served in the South Pacific Theater. Following the war he organized and helped start the American Legion Post at Woodburn, Iowa, and served as its first commander. He attended Simpson College, receiving his B.A. Degree in 1949, and began teaching and coaching at Lucas, Iowa. He met Bonnie Hoyt at Simpson and they married on Dec. 26, 1948. In 1951 he became high school principal at Murray, Iowa. He received his M.A. in 1952 from Drake University and became superintendent at Murray. He began the football program as well as organizing the Murray Community School District. In 1957 he accepted the position as superintendent of the Tabor, Iowa, schools, and subsequently reorganized the Fremont-Mills district in 1959. In 1964, he became superintendent of the Lowden Consolidated Schools. Glenn refereed basketball, football, softball, and baseball for many years, and coached softball. He became an avid and skilled golfer and he and wife Bonnie competed in many golf tournaments through the years. He engineered and built the 3/30 Golf Course and introduced the golf program at the Lowden, Iowa, schools. He coached the girls' golf team to the state tournament in 1971. He reorganized the Clarence-Lowden School District and began the volleyball program. He retired as superintendent from the Villisca School District in 1983 after initiating the golf program for that school. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge of Woodburn, Iowa. Following retirement he and Bonnie moved to Chariton, Iowa. He served on the Chariton, Iowa, School Board for six years, three years as President. In 1991 he accepted a position with the Area Education Agency 15 Board and served until he moved from the district to Bella Vista, Ark. He is survived by wife Bonnie of 65 years, son Glenn and Marty of Red Oak, Iowa, daughter Laura and Jim Sawyer of Darien, Ill., daughter Beth and Todd Pfefferle of Albuquerque, N.M., and grandson Bryan Sawyer and Jordan Kennedy, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, great-grandson Cooper James Sawyer, brother Clifford and sister-in-law Barbara (Ivan) Mason, of Osceola, Iowa, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Owen and Joanna Mason; sisters Fern and John DeVore; Cleo and Wayne O'Neall; Inez and Leo Manley; Mabel and Charles Frizzell, and brothers Raymond and Ruth Mason; Virgil and Ann Mason; Floyd Mason; and Ivan Mason; brothers-in-law Lyle Hoyt and Dean Hoyt. In 2005 Glenn received the Double S Award from Simpson College for his contribution to sports, scholarship and service to communities while at Simpson and through his years in education. Glenn was also awarded an Iowa Superintendent of the Year in 2010 for his service to Iowa schools in scholastic and athletic programs selected by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Memorial services will be held at a later date in Iowa. Arrangements by Epting Funeral Home of Bella Vista. Condolences: www.eptingfuneralhome.webs.com.