Glen D. Vannier
On October 26, 2022, Glen Dale Vannier went to his Heavenly Father.
Glen was surrounded by family and friends at his home in Kearney.
Memorial Services will be 2:00 p.m., Thursday, May 25, 2023, at the First United Methodist Church in Kearney.
Glen was born February 1, 1927, to Dora Matilda (Casper) and John Harry Vannier on the family farm in Hildreth. He graduated from Hildreth High School in 1944 and was active in playing sports.
In his Senior year, the basketball team which he played on won the State Championship with a season record of 29 wins and 0 loses.
In the Fall, he attended Nebraska State Teachers College at Kearney for one year. At the completion of this year, he served 18 months in the United States Army and then returned to college. In January 1950, he received his BA degree from Nebraska State Teachers College with a major in physical education and minors in commerce and social studies. While at college, he lettered three years in basketball, played on the second team in football, and coached the 1949 Caledonia Blues Intramural Champions.
In 1958, he received his Master’s degree in secondary education.
Glen met his wife June Zimmerman at a Nebraska State Teachers College dance, and they were married on June 18, 1950. They had two children, David and Barbara. Glen taught at Shelton from 1950-1951, Arcadia from 1951-1958, Axtell from 1958-1959, and Arapahoe from 19591990 for a total of forty years. He coached for thirty-nine years at all of these schools except for Axtell where he was Principal.
Glen’s 1956 Arcadia State Champion football team was inducted into the High School Hall of Fame in Lincoln in 2006. This team won 30 games in a row and the first 19 games were unscored.
While coaching at Arapahoe, Glen’s 1960 football team won RVL, his 1964 basketball team went to the State Tournament and his 1974 basketball team was runner up in the State Tournament.
His 1982-1983 girls’ basketball team won RVL and placed second in the District Tournament. He coached over 400 games. He also coached track for 17 years and golf for 10 years.
Glen’s faith was very important to him and he was active in First United Methodist Church. He served as usher, treasurer and sang in the choir.
He also served on the Arapahoe City Council.
Glen is survived by two children David (Lois) and Barbara, two grandchildren Mickie and Jennifer, a sister Verna, nephews and nieces.
Glen was a husband of almost 65 years, a beloved father and grandfather. His greatest joys were his family, teaching and coaching. He loved seeing or hearing from former students.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to American Cancer Society. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. Services are entrusted to O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services.
