Glenna Knapp Rancloes

STEWARTSTOWN – Glenna (Knapp) Rancloes, of Stewartstown, died on Thursday, September 19, 2024, at the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital in Colebrook surrounded by her family just two months shy of her 100th birthday. She was born at Creampoke Farm in Stewartstown on Nov. 22, 1924, a daughter to the late Alfred and Joyce (Forbes) Knapp. At the time of her death, Glenna was the holder of the Boston Post Cane for the town of Stewartstown as its eldest citizen where she had been a life-long resident. She went to a one-room schoolhouse on North Hill, one-quarter mile from her home. She later attended Colebrook Academy and was the last surviving member of the Class of 1942. She would drive other students to school as soon as she had a license. Glenna worked at the soda fountain at Brainard’s Drug Store during her school days, and would often receive notifications of military casualties during World War II which came via telegraph to the store, and then she would have to find someone from the American Legion or Red Cross to notify local family. She married Frank O. Rancloes on Feb. 16, 1947. They farmed, maple-sugared and logged for many years. Both were avid hunters. Over the years, Glenna had many jobs, but her favorite was as the bookkeeper for five successive owners of Lewis Ford in Colebrook. She only retired at the age of 84 when the dealership closed for good. She was known not to leave work each day until the books balanced to the penny. No one could accuse her of having idle hands. Glenna loved to go to the regional fairs each year, and to travel with Frank to his Marine Corps reunions (attending 35 of them), local tag sales, cruises, and be with her family and her friends. She was famous for her homemade doughnuts at the Colebrook Farmers’ Market, and anyone who ever visited her home left with a bag of doughnuts. She made wreaths, both wholesale and retail, for more than 70 years. The wreath shop was always filled with visitors. Halloween was another favorite time and she was a big fan of all the festivities. Glenna’s greatest pleasures were her children, cooking, gardening, meddling, traveling to just about anywhere, local parades, debating with IRS auditors, and a well-made C.C. & Coke with her friends and family. To just about everyone who knew her, she was “Grammy Glenna.” Her motto for living was, “Remember yesterday, think about tomorrow, but live for today!” Glenna is survived by her children, Constance ‘Connie’ Angevine, Wanda (Robert) Brown, F. Russell ‘Bim’ (Marie) Rancloes, Rita (Bruce) Hale, and David (Melanie) Rancloes, as well as special friend, Carol Placey. She was the matriarch of 27 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren, and 16 great-great-grandchildren, dispersed all over the world from Stewartstown to Japan. She is predeceased by her beloved husband of 70 years, Frank, in 2017; two sons, Larry and Rene Rancloes; two grandchildren, Lana Brown and Chris Rancloes; and a great-grandson, Eric Joy. Calling hours will be on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook. A graveside interment service will be held the next morning, Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 11 a.m. in the Hollow Cemetery on Rt. 145 in Stewartstown. Following the service, friends and family are welcome to gather at the home of Connie, the Creampoke Farm where Glenna was born and which has been in the family since 1815, on Creampoke Road in Stewartstown. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Glenna may be made to the Two Rivers Relief, P.O. Box 376, Colebrook, NH 03576. Condolences may be offered on-line by going to www.jenkinsnewman.com.

Glenna Knapp Rancloes

November 22, 1924 - September 19, 2024