Glen Hayworth

Glen Roger Hayworth, age 85, of Kingsley, Iowa, died on Friday, November 28, 2025, at home.

Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025 at First Lutheran Church in Kingsley, Iowa with Pastor Jason Letsche officiating. Burial will follow at The Kingsley Cemetery. Visitation with family present will be 4-7 p.m. with a prayer service at 5 p.m. on Monday at Kingsley Funeral Home & Monument in Kingsley, Iowa.  kingsleyfh.com.

Glen was born on November 12, 1940, in Anthon, Iowa, to Vester and Wilma (Dicus) Hayworth. He was the youngest of 10 children, seven boys and three girls. He was raised on a working farm.

He attended a rural country school, Wolf Creek, through sixth grade. He then went to school in Anthon, graduating in 1958. During high school, he enjoyed basketball, track, baseball, band and chorus. He was class president for several years. He was involved in 4H. He was a member of the Anthon Church of Christ.

Glen attended Wayne State College in Wayne, NE, majoring in physical education and minoring in history, graduating in 1962. In college he was in the choir (mainly because his girlfriend was in the choir).

On December 28, 1961, he married the love of his life, Judy Petersen, of Correctionville, IA, at Midway Lutheran Church of Battle Creek, IA.

In addition to teaching, he painted farm buildings in the summer break, was a bricklaying gopher, and a cash counter at the race tracks in Sioux City.

His first teaching position was at Melcher-Dallas in Melcher, IA, where he also coached various sports. In 1964, the family moved to Kingsley, where both he and Judy became teachers at KP. Glen took a break from teaching to serve as high school principal for three years, then taught social studies until 1985. He earned two advanced degrees from the University of South Dakota, in Education Administration and also Drug Education. He worked in the field of anti-drug education for several years. In 1990, he began teaching at the YES/AEA Center in Cherokee, IA, until his and Judy’s retirement in 2000.

In 1990, the Hayworths began thirty-four years of lake living at Acorn Ridge on East Lake Okoboji. That became a treasured place for extended generations, where Grandpa Glen whipped them from their boat’s raft, before enjoying s’mores around the fire.

In their years of retirement, Glen and Judy enjoyed international travel, with beloved relatives Ron and Pam Handke. Glen was a rabid Packers and Hawkeyes fan, became an avid bicyclist, completing five full RAGRAI’s, enjoyed playing euchre with Duane and Lucy, and relished participating in many coffee groups.

Glen was an active member of the First Lutheran Church in Kingsley, serving as elder, among other positions. Other boards he served on include Kingsley Library Board for 40 years, and the Plymouth County Museum Board.

Glen was known by those close to him for having sarcasm as his first language; cheating his grandkids while playing board games, such as Scattegories; his love of history; and storytelling.

A prime focus of his life were his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Judy; four children, Bret Hayworth, of Moville, IA; Kent and Jill Hayworth of Cedar Rapids, IA; Juli Hayworth of Kirkwood, MO; and Dirk and Stephanie Hayworth of Spirit Lake, IA. Nine grandchildren include Greta and Molly (Bret); Christian, Kaylee and Kentra (Kent); Allex and Britini (Juli); and Nicholas and Abigail (Dirk). There are seven great-grandchildren, Emma, Olivia, William, Mary Boyd, Ava, Sophie, and Robert.

Glen is survived by his sister, Norma Oakes, and sisters-in-law, Virginia Hayworth and Jerane Hayworth; brothers-in-law Terry and MaryLou Petersen; Tom Petersen; and Tim and Lori Petersen, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and eight siblings, and his parents-in-law, Raymond and Fern Petersen.