Glenyce Mildred Hansen

Born to Glenn and Mildred Dewey in De Moines, Iowa, on June 23, 1949, Glenyce was one of six children. The daughter of an interim Baptist minister of English ancestry and a vibrant, creative Swedish mother, Glenyce put her trust in Jesus alone for her salvation at the age of eight during a summer camp. She came from a legacy of faith and ministry that spanned her generations.

Growing up, Glenyce lived in many different towns in the Midwest, the last and most life-changing of which was Muskegon, MI. She graduated from Muskegon High School in 1967 with an honors emphasis on office and secretarial services. During high school, she met her husband of fifty-five years, Larry, in the choir at Olivet Evangelical Free Church, where her parents were serving. They wed on June 7, 1969. Glenyce and Larry moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, immediately after they were married, as Larry had been assigned to Hickam Air Force Base during the Vietnam War. The newlyweds resided there until returning to Muskegon in 1972.

Glenyce gave birth to their daughter, Kimberly, in 1973, daughter Angela in 1976, and daughter Elisabeth in 1985. She and Larry raised them in Muskegon and at Olivet Church, where they attended together for 28 years. Larry and their daughters, as well as two sons-in-law and eight grandchildren, were those most precious in her life and for whom she was faithful in prayer up to her last days.

Over the years, Glenyce was involved in various churches, including Olivet Evangelical Free Church, Lakeshore Baptist Church, Spring Lake Wesleyan Church, Central Wesleyan Church, and, most recently, the Lakeshore House of Prayer. She led children's choirs, sang in the choir, served on missions committees and in women's ministries, and was part of Freedom in Christ ministries. Her greatest service was the ministry of intercessory prayer. She loved to not only pray for her family and churches, but also for America, having a great interest in local and national politics.

Aside from her work at home with her family and her service in the local church, Glenyce held positions in Honolulu, Hawaii, as well as in Muskegon and Grand Haven, Michigan, as a waitress, receptionist, church secretary, office manager, file clerk, and legal secretary. She enjoyed her employment at Russ', Harbor Point Medical Center, Lakeside Church, Meyer Resources International, and Bussard & Sielski Attorneys at Law. She worked hard and joyfully to help put her daughters through college. Glenyce's reputation was one of loyalty, integrity, diplomacy, perseverance, friendliness, cheerfulness, and adaptability. And of course, she was known for praying for and with her employers, co-workers, and clients, especially for their salvation. She expressed in one job application that "I desire to be serving and working where the Lord wants to use me, and this would bring glory to Him and fulfillment to me."

Glenyce's interests included sewing, reading, singing, taking walks along the Grand Haven pier, attending prayer and mission conferences, and traveling. She often referred to the two mission trips she took to Croatia and Australia. She was known to many as a passionate, dynamic, spirited, bold, and intense individual, particularly in her devotion to the Lord. One of her favorite scriptures was from Hebrews 11:1 & 6: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen…and without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."

Glenyce is preceded in death by her parents, brother Carlyle, husband Larry, and their daughter Elisabeth. Because of her faith in Jesus, Glenyce is finally free and healed, enjoying an unimaginably happy reunion with them and many other friends and relatives who have welcomed her into the presence of the Lord, with unending joy and purpose before her.

For those wishing to make a memorial gift that will be used to honor Glenyce's legacy of faith and prayer in the lives of her grandchildren who are training for ministry, please contact us at [email protected] for donation payment options.