Early this spring, we got a suspicious bank notice.

The day had been long and fruitful, but darkness would come in about an hour as I traveled west on Interstate 90. I had been traveling at the limit of the Minnesota Highway Patrol’s good humor for the last few hours with the hope of not having to travel flooded terrain in the dark, but I was tired, hungry and in need of... a return to my favorite McDonald’s in Fairmont, MN. That oasis of cleanliness, good cheer and perfected Quarter Pounders with Cheese I last wrote about for Labor Day in 2021.

Clients and friends, 

We wanted to let you know of an update in our family. Our office will be closed Friday, September 20th 2024 to celebrate the life of James (Jim) Glaser, Jon's father and Libby's grandpa, who passed away on Sunday, September 15th. Many of you will know and remember him from his days working in the financial services industry as a commodity broker and later a branch manager at First Mid America and R.G. Dickinson from 1967 - 1980's. His influence would inspire Jim's wife, June, to enter the securities industry, becoming a pioneer for women in financial services, as well as Jon in 1987, and eventually Libby as a 3rd generation Financial Advisor in 2016. You can read his obituary information below. 

Our office will be closed on Friday, September 20th 2024 to attend his funeral. Any clients needing immediate assistance are kindly asked to contact Libby on her cell phone during this time. Our office will reopen with normal hours on Monday, September 23rd 2024. 

The Glaser/Johnson families appreciate your understanding and well wishes during this time! 

Sincerely, 
Jon and Libby  

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Mr. James Glaser of Des Moines, passed away on September 15, 2024, at the age of 91.

Jim was born on March 25, 1933, in St. Joseph, Missouri to Gus and Eileen Glaser. The family would eventually settle in Fort Dodge, Iowa were Jim would attend Corpus Christi Catholic School. There he met his future wife, June Cook, where they both would graduate in 1951. Jim attended Babson College in Boston, Massachusetts and following his wedding to June in 1954, she joined him there for his senior year.

Jim’s early career was spent at the family business, Gus Glaser Meats working in several towns in the Midwest before moving to Urbandale, Iowa in 1967, where Jim and June raised their family. It was at this time Jim left Glaser Meats and embarked upon a career in the investments industry, building and managing several offices for First Mid America. Late in his career, at an age when most would have retired, Jim’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to open Glaser Lawn Care, a business he happily devoted himself to until his retirement.

Jim and June’s love of family and their shared Catholic faith was the focus of their daily lives. Highly social, Jim was not one pass on an opportunity to gather among family, friends or members of their Catholic community. Jim was especially active in the Serra Club of Des Moines and its promotion of vocations to the church. Late into their retirement, Jim and June would volunteer for “clean outs” to salvage household goods, clothing and furniture to be turned over to Catholic Charities for distribution to the needy.

After June’s death in 2015, Jim would move to the 3801 Grand Retirement Community where his outgoing nature won over many new friends and introduced him to a new favorite pastime, bean bag baseball. An avid walker, Jim could be seen most days patrolling Grand Avenue or the halls of the facility during inclement weather. His favorite holiday was Halloween, and he took great pride in transforming his apartment into the “Ghost House”, which was popular with the residents, family and young school groups.

Jim is survived by his children, James W. (Jeanne) of Des Moines, Martha (Chris) Adams of Franklin, TN, Mark Glaser of Des Moines, Jonathan (Cheryl) Glaser of Clive and Phil (Katharina) Glaser of Des Moines; his siblings, Tucker Glaser of West Des Moines, Marilyn Graham of Fort Dodge and Diane Scott of Portland, OR; 12 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. James was proceeded in death by his wife, June; his parents Gus and Eileen; his son, Paul Glaser; his grandson, James Christopher Adams, and his brother, Bob Glaser.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Augustin’s School Foundation or Dowling Catholic School Foundation.

Visitation will be held from 5-7pm, Thursday, September 19, 2024 at Iles Dunn’s Chapel. A Rosary and time for sharing will begin at 7pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30am, Friday, September 20, 2024 at St. Augustin Catholic Church. Cremation rites will follow. Interment will be held at the Corpus Christi Cemetery, Fort Dodge, IA.

My neighbor’s house has flooded.

Here on the shores of West Okoboji, the spring rains were heavy, but not terribly unusual. However, the rain continued all through June. The final storms were epic: six plus inches of rain overnight flooded the beach and powerful winds pushed the lake across my neighbor’s yard into their house.

It’s been an eventful year in Northwest Iowa. Earlier in January, our neighbors to the east had a housefire that proved almost impossible to control. It consumed two houses and the better part of a third before a half dozen local fire departments got things under control. As I write this, the sounds of cicadas fill the air.