Glen Dale Rixen

Glen Dale Rixen, the son of Arthur and Ida (Scheel) Rixen was born on December 22, 1921, in Pender, Nebraska. His family moved to Harlan, Iowa, shortly after his birth. Glen was a 1940 graduate of Harlan High School. On July 9, 1944, he married Carol Mae Channon in Harlan. For many years, Glen owned and operated Rixen Real Estate and Insurance. During the 1960’s, he served as the local Civil Defense officer. In 1971, Glen sold his insurance business and became the Resource Management Officer with the Iowa State Department of Civil Defense. He was later with the CETA program, working out of Harlan. After returning to work in the Real Estate business for several years, Glen retired in 1989.

Glen was a member of the Congregational United Church of Christ in Harlan. He was an active member of the Parian Lodge 321 AF & AM, Olivet Chapter #107, Adelphia Council #4, Mt. Zion Commandery #49 of Harlan, the Order of Eastern Star, Lebanon Chapter #8, the Abu Bekr Shrine Temple of Sioux City, Iowa, and the Harlan Shrine T-Patrol. He was past-president of the Harlan Kiwanis, and had served as Lt. Governor of District 12 in 1992-93. Glen was also a Harlan Golden K member. He was an avid British sports car enthusiast who owned and restored his own cars.

Glen D. Rixen died on Saturday, April 17, 2004, at the Immanuel Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, at the age of 82 years, 3 months, and 26 days.

Preceding Glen in death were his parents and one sister, Dorothy Obrecht. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Carol Rixen of Harlan, Iowa; one son, Steven (Sandra) Rixen of Hudson, Wisconsin; one daughter, Elizabeth Rixen of Olathe, Kansas; one brother, Walter (Helen) Rixen of Waukon, Iowa; one brother-in-law, Gene Obrecht of Lincoln, Nebraska; two grandchildren, Matthew Rixen and Kristofor Rixen; and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, April 20, 2004, at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Harlan, with Rev. Donna Ewert officiating. Freda Boeck served as the organist, and Ron and Carol Moon were the vocalists. Honorary casket bearers were Frank “Rusty” Wirth, Lois Wirth, Dr. Joe Spearing, Carolyn Spearing, Gene Croghan, and Dwain Boeck. Active casket bearers were Ed Swank, Fritz Tiarks, Farrell Zimmerman, Dennis Woodin, Bert Hillers, and Carl Nielsen. Burial was in the Harlan Cemetery in Harlan, Iowa. The Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home in Harlan was in charge of the arrangements.