Glenn Hugh McDonald

Glenn was born on March 22, 1931 in Cleveland, Ohio to Glenn Lemuel McDonald and Vera Marie McDonald nee Dull. He grew up here in the Kansas City area, and attended Central High School where he graduated in 1948. Shortly thereafter Glenn joined the Navy and after boot camp Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois, was stationed at Naval Station San Diego and in the fall of 1949 was assigned to the USS Badoeng Strait CVE-116 as their paymaster, which made him rather popular with the crew. Dad liked to tell stories of he and the crews’ misdeeds in San Diego, Hawaii, Japan, and Korea. The ship mainly supported Marines flying F4U Corsairs on troop support missions, and he spoke forlornly about those lost in action. Upon return to San Diego, he was honorably discharged in the spring of 1953 and returned to Kansas City, where he found employment with Bendix Corporation in south Kansas City where he was employed as a Quality Control Analyst. Bendix remained his only employer after his service till his retirement in 1993.

Dad was an avid motorcyclist, and rode his Kawasaki 900 to work for many years, and later his Suzuki 850. He also loved boating, and owned a variety of watercraft which he piloted on his favorite lake, Pomme de Terre, and later on Longview Lake after its construction.

While dad may have started as a mechanical tinkerer, he and his sons all learned the ins and outs of automobile maintenance together, and these successful projects were a point of pride with the boys of the family. A few years ago, he collated a list of cars he had owned, which ranged from a 1936 Hudson Straight 8 and 1941 Olds Sedan to a ’67 Mustang, ’68 Nova, and his ’77 Chevy Custom Van, which we all drove the wheels off of. He loved to talk about which ones were great cars, which were ‘lemons’, and the trips around the country that were taken with each.

Dad was preceded in death by his father, Glenn Lemuel McDonald, his mother, Vera Marie McDonald nee Dull, his sisters Jenrose Rigg nee McDonald and Jeanette Sue (Tudi) McDonald, his wife, Ruth Ellen McDonald nee Holt, and his granddaughter Jeannine Marie (Didi) Jansen. He is survived by his children, Sherrie Dawn Jansen nee McDonald, Glenn Lyle McDonald, Robin Scott McDonald, his grandson Jesse Lee Jansen, his great grandson Trent Lee Vega, and great grandkids Jansen Lee Vogel, Ella Jeannine Jansen, Jude Lee Jansen.

Been a long and winding road dad. Time to rest. We love you!

Services to be held at 2pm October 4th at Floral Hills, 7000 Blue Ridge Blvd, Kansas City, MO.