Glenn H. Shima

Glenn H. Shima

Solon

Glenn H. Shima, 95, of rural Solon, died at his home, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 30, 2022, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Iowa City with burial to follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Iowa City. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Glenn’s memory to Camp Courageous, Solon American Legion or the Solon Fire Department. To share a thought, memory or condolence please visit Gay & Ciha Funeral; and Cremation Service website at www.gayandciha.com.

Glenn was born Aug. 19, 1927, the son of Victor Arthur and Bessie (Cilek) Shima on the family farm near Solon, Iowa. He attended country school until the eighth grade in 1941. Then off to Solon High where he graduated in 1945 at the age of 17. Glenn met the love of his life while in high school, he was a senior and fell for this freshman girl, named Irene Novotny. He was proud to tell you about one of the ways he showed his love for her during school. In class one day while sitting behind her, he dipped her braided hair in his ink well. As Paul Harvey would say, now you know the rest of the story, this couple would be later married on June 19, 1950, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Iowa City. A marriage that would thrive for 61 years and 243 days until Irene’s death.

He stayed on the farm after graduation and, in his words, “worked like a beaver” for his folks. In 1951 Glenn enlisted in the Army and proudly served his country during the Korean Conflict. Returning home, Glenn and Irene worked on their farm they bought in 1960, raising their family but also working off the farm. Irene worked various jobs in town, retiring from the City of Iowa City. Glenn, who had developed master carpenter skills along the way, was in high demand from area contractors for his fine craftsman work. After many years of construction, he worked for the U of I Maintenance and retired. Glenn cherished the many friendships he developed over the years from his days in the army, his many work sites in his construction days, his classmates and neighbors.

Glenn enjoyed traveling the world with family and friends, a frequent visitor on Princess Cruise Lines! He was a proud 64-year member of the Solon American Legion, a member of both St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church of Iowa City and St. Mary’s Catholic Church at Newport Township of Johnson County; and loved tooling around with the love of his life in the front seat with the Classy Chassy Cruisers. Glenn truly was a man of strong faith, loved his family, understood what it meant to be a farmer, and was always a friend you could count on.

His family includes his two daughters and their husbands, Kayleen and Mike Gardner, and Connie and Dick Friedl; two granddaughters and their husbands, Emily and Dan Frett, and Kelly and Blayne Willadsen; and three very near and dear great-grandchildren to Glenn, Sadie Irene Willadsen, Macie Ann and Marshall Scott Frett.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his dear wife, Irene, and sister, Betty Shima.

Glenn would like to leave you with this, “It’s a great day when the sun shines.” Everyone would remember him saying this to you!