Obituary for Evelyn Ruth Glazebrook (Newton)
Evelyn (Nelson) Glazebrook, age 94, a long-time resident of Des Moines passed away peacefully on December 25th.
Evelyn was born in 1927 in Pharsalia, New York. She is the daughter of Orton and Orah Newton. The Newton Family operates a bicentennial dairy farm in the area. After completing her undergraduate degree at Oneonta College in New York, Evelyn received her Master’s degree in Hearing and Speech Pathology at the University of Iowa, where she met Lloyd Nelson who was studying at the U of I on the GI bill.
Lloyd and Evelyn were married in 1953 and settled in Iowa. They lived a few years in the Cedar Rapids area, and then later moved to Des Moines. Linda was their first-born daughter, born in 1956. Their youngest daughter was Julie, born in 1959.
Evelyn worked as a Speech Therapist for several schools in the Des Moines area through the Heartland AEA (Area Education Agencies). The Heartland AEA serves 53 different school districts. Lloyd worked for the Iowa Department of Public Health. After settling in Iowa, the Nelsons made several trips back to visit Evelyn’s family in upstate New York. Family picnics, blueberry picking and helping out on the dairy farm are all cherished memories. Lloyd was diagnosed with lung cancer and died in 1972. After Lloyd passed, Evelyn stayed in Des Moines and remained working to raise her two daughters.
In 1980, she married Chuck Glazebrook and moved to Urbandale. When Evelyn and Chuck married, she became an “instant Grandma”, from Chuck’s grandchildren. As a couple, they enjoyed several gatherings with the Glazebrooks. Chuck had 3 children: Rick, Lynn and Joel. Rick passed away in 2020, Lynn is currently living in Colorado and Joel is a resident of Des Moines. Chuck passed on January 6, 1984. At this time, Evelyn purchased a duplex in Windsor Heights, Iowa which became her home for the next 34 years.
While living in the Des Moines area, Evelyn became an active member of the Unitarian Universalist Church. Her membership at the church spanned roughly 60 years. She was very passionate about multiple issues and active with several organizations including the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and the Unity Circle. She was also an avid reader and after retirement become a frequent traveler. One of her favorite destinations was London, which she visited several times with her traveling companion Dave Huntsberger.
Her beloved brother, Harold Newton-McDonough NY, passed away in November of 2018.
Evelyn is survived by her two daughters, Linda (LeRoy) Davis - Battle Creek MI. and Julie (Scott) Smith - New Richmond, WI; sister-in-law, Donna Newton, McDonough, NY; seven grandchildren, Jeffrey Smith-San Diego, CA., Dan Smith-Anchorage, AK., David Smith-Dallas Texas, Krista Davis-Allendale, MI., LeRoy Davis II – Mankato, KS., Ryan Davis-Lincoln, KS. And Justin Davis-Kansas City, MO; 11 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews
Not only does Evelyn leave the legacy of her family, she also leaves a lifetime of memories with the friends and family whose lives were touched by her gentle, loving spirit.
Services celebrating Evelyn’s life will be held at the Unitarian Church in Des Moines, Iowa and at the family cemetery in Pharsalia, New York. The Des Moines service will be March 19th at the Unitarian Church. The New York service will be announced at a later date.
Evelyn requested that any memorial contributions in her name be sent to one of three places.
1.Wayside Rest Cemetery Association.
C/O Carl Schwartz Pres.
896 Hakes Calhoun Davis Road,
McDonough, NY 13801.
2.First Unitarian Church of Des Moines
1800 Bell Ave.
Des Moines, Iowa 50315
3.Des Moines Symphony
The Temple for Performing Arts
1011 Locust Street, Suite 200
Des Moines, Iowa 50395
(515)280-4000
The family would like to thank you in advance for any contributions.
Evelyn was born in 1927 in Pharsalia, New York. She is the daughter of Orton and Orah Newton. The Newton Family operates a bicentennial dairy farm in the area. After completing her undergraduate degree at Oneonta College in New York, Evelyn received her Master’s degree in Hearing and Speech Pathology at the University of Iowa, where she met Lloyd Nelson who was studying at the U of I on the GI bill.
Lloyd and Evelyn were married in 1953 and settled in Iowa. They lived a few years in the Cedar Rapids area, and then later moved to Des Moines. Linda was their first-born daughter, born in 1956. Their youngest daughter was Julie, born in 1959.
Evelyn worked as a Speech Therapist for several schools in the Des Moines area through the Heartland AEA (Area Education Agencies). The Heartland AEA serves 53 different school districts. Lloyd worked for the Iowa Department of Public Health. After settling in Iowa, the Nelsons made several trips back to visit Evelyn’s family in upstate New York. Family picnics, blueberry picking and helping out on the dairy farm are all cherished memories. Lloyd was diagnosed with lung cancer and died in 1972. After Lloyd passed, Evelyn stayed in Des Moines and remained working to raise her two daughters.
In 1980, she married Chuck Glazebrook and moved to Urbandale. When Evelyn and Chuck married, she became an “instant Grandma”, from Chuck’s grandchildren. As a couple, they enjoyed several gatherings with the Glazebrooks. Chuck had 3 children: Rick, Lynn and Joel. Rick passed away in 2020, Lynn is currently living in Colorado and Joel is a resident of Des Moines. Chuck passed on January 6, 1984. At this time, Evelyn purchased a duplex in Windsor Heights, Iowa which became her home for the next 34 years.
While living in the Des Moines area, Evelyn became an active member of the Unitarian Universalist Church. Her membership at the church spanned roughly 60 years. She was very passionate about multiple issues and active with several organizations including the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and the Unity Circle. She was also an avid reader and after retirement become a frequent traveler. One of her favorite destinations was London, which she visited several times with her traveling companion Dave Huntsberger.
Her beloved brother, Harold Newton-McDonough NY, passed away in November of 2018.
Evelyn is survived by her two daughters, Linda (LeRoy) Davis - Battle Creek MI. and Julie (Scott) Smith - New Richmond, WI; sister-in-law, Donna Newton, McDonough, NY; seven grandchildren, Jeffrey Smith-San Diego, CA., Dan Smith-Anchorage, AK., David Smith-Dallas Texas, Krista Davis-Allendale, MI., LeRoy Davis II – Mankato, KS., Ryan Davis-Lincoln, KS. And Justin Davis-Kansas City, MO; 11 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews
Not only does Evelyn leave the legacy of her family, she also leaves a lifetime of memories with the friends and family whose lives were touched by her gentle, loving spirit.
Services celebrating Evelyn’s life will be held at the Unitarian Church in Des Moines, Iowa and at the family cemetery in Pharsalia, New York. The Des Moines service will be March 19th at the Unitarian Church. The New York service will be announced at a later date.
Evelyn requested that any memorial contributions in her name be sent to one of three places.
1.Wayside Rest Cemetery Association.
C/O Carl Schwartz Pres.
896 Hakes Calhoun Davis Road,
McDonough, NY 13801.
2.First Unitarian Church of Des Moines
1800 Bell Ave.
Des Moines, Iowa 50315
3.Des Moines Symphony
The Temple for Performing Arts
1011 Locust Street, Suite 200
Des Moines, Iowa 50395
(515)280-4000
The family would like to thank you in advance for any contributions.