Glen was with the Veterinary Reserved Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) and after graduation he was called to service as the base veterinarian at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, DC. Among his duties included chaperoning Enos – the first American to orbit the earth in space – on a national talk show. Enos was a chimpanzee. Daughter Sharon Ilene was born in 1955.

Glen then went to work in a large animal veterinary practice in Ellsworth, Minnesota. In 1956 he opened his own veterinary practice in Boxholm, Iowa. Though mostly a large animal practice, he healed everything from cats to cows and even diagnosed the occasional human. Daughter Shawn Elaine and son Eric Glen were born. Glen and Lois fostered Deanne, David, and Darin Mills. Glen was an active leader in the Boxholm Methodist (later United Methodist) church where he co-lead the youth group with Lois. He was on the Grand Community School Board, the Boxholm City Council, and was a Boy Scout leader. He and Lois also managed a small farm with Shorty Peterson.

In 1975 with Sharon in the Veterinarian program at Iowa State and Shawn about to enter University of Iowa, eventually to become a Registered Nurse, the family moved to Waverly, Iowa. Glen joined the Waverly Veterinary Clinic and Lois became the Guidance Counselor at Waterloo Columbus High School. They joined Trinity United Methodist Church. They took leadership roles in the church, Habitat for Humanity, and the Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Authority. They volunteered extensively with The Heifer Project for over 35 years – a special project for them – and were hosts at their regional centers, The Ranch in Arkansas and Overlook Farm in Massachusetts. Eric became a Soil Scientist and Agronomist.

Glen and Lois “retired” and joined the United States Peace Corps, entering into service in Morocco in 1991. They felt very welcomed by the Muslim community of Rich, Morocco, where they lived and have continued to stay in contact with them through the years. Glen trained veterinary technicians, taught animal husbandry, and provided animal care. They joined the Christian Veterinary Mission and spent several months in Kenya assessing, buying and distributing goats to help people re-establish their herds lost to drought. They spent a cold winter in Ulaanbaater, Mongolia, operating a clinic designed to provide local veterinary students the opportunity for practical experience prior to going out on their own. They trained El Salvadorian farmers and technicians along with Peace Corps volunteers. They worked with Self Help of Waverly in Ghana and were involved with the Iowa United Methodist Church mission programs in Jamaica, Guatemala, Granada, St. Vincent, and Costa Rica as well as various locations in the U.S. including Puerto Rico. Not bad for a couple of depression era farm kids from Indiana and Kansas.

Dr. Hurley was an honor roll member of the American Veterinary Medical Association. He was a life member of the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association and served on its executive board. He also served as president of the North Central Iowa Veterinary Medical Association.

Glen was preceded in death by his wife Lois I. (Engels) Hurley, parents Claude Elisha and Lorene Wattles Hurley, brother Russell L. Hurley and sister-in-law Alice Josephine Empson, and brother Charles W. Hurley and sister-in-law Mildred Hurley. Glen is survived by his children Sharon I. Hurley (Dave Linn), Shawn E. Snyder (Pat), and Eric G. Hurley. He has four grandchildren, Amy Heitman (Chris), Daniel Snyder (Becky), Danielle Linn, and Tyler Linn (Breanna). He has seven great grandchildren, Olivia, Owen, Lyra, Declan, Liam, Rory, Madi, and one on the way.

To sign the online guestbook or send condolences to his family, please visit: MVFH.org. Please send any memorials in Glen E. Hurley’s name to Heifer Project International or donor’s choice.

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