Glenn Young Belyea

Glenn Young Belyea, 83, of Bath passed away on July 29, 2026. Glenn was born April 3, 1943 in Portland, Maine, the son of Stephen and Louise Belyea. He grew up in Gorham, Maine and as a senior at Gorham High was co-captain and lead runner of their state championship cross country team. He attended the University of Maine at Orono where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology and a Master’s Degree in Entomology. Having been in the R.O.T.C. program, he was commissioned a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army where he served two years as an entomologist and attained the rank of Captain. After resigning his commission, he moved to Michigan and completed a PhD in Wildlife Management from Michigan State University. He joined the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in 1972 as a Wildlife Research Biologist and worked for nearly 30 years focusing on turkeys, pheasants and lastly, cormorants.

Glenn had many interests that he avidly pursued. He was an inveterate collector with collections ranging from marbles, DNR patches and digests, minerals, fossils and numerous natural history items. Following his entomology interest, he collected and maintained an extensive collection of mainly Michigan moths and butterflies. He was a world class hunter having hunted all across North America, as well as Mexico, Argentina, New Zealand, England and three African countries taking many fine trophies. He collected all 40+ species of legal North American waterfowl as well as all 6 types of turkeys, and received numerous awards for his hunting successes. Glenn was also an intense birdwatcher or “birder” as they are now called. He traveled all over North America to see the various species of birds and made many flights or long drives to see a single rare species, sighting over 800 species across continental North America, a rare accomplishment. His 412 species in Michigan alone makes him one of the state’s accomplished birders.

He was married for over 60 years to his high school sweetheart, Maryanne. He is survived by his loving wife, their two daughters Christy (Brad) Marks and Amy (Dan) Flavin, their grandchildren Annaliese and Juliana Marks and Delaney and Chase Flavin, and his sister Brenda (Larry) Willis. He was preceded in death by his parents and younger brother Barry.

The family will receive friends Sunday, August 16, 2026, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home, 1730 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing.

Those desiring may make memorial gifts to: the Lansing Area Parkinson’s Support Group (https://lapsg.org/donate) or to the Michigan Audubon (https://www.michiganaudubon.org/donate/).