Glenn Frederick de la Motte peacefully passed to be with the Lord on February 1, 2024, in Modesto, California exactly eight months after the death Myrna, his wife of nearly 72 years.
He was born at home in Hazard, Nebraska on January 20, 1929 youngest child of Herman and Emilie Damm de la Motte. Like thousands
of other families in the Midwest, their farm was lost to the bank and auctioneer during the Dust Bowl. In 1936 his family moved to
California, thanks to the generosity of the Koll family, relatives in Southern California who owned businesses and real estate throughout California, including the Modesto Lumber Yard and farmland in the area. Glenn’s parents and family shared a 2 room house with other relatives on Vivian Road west of Ceres and farmed the Koll property.
Glenn attended elementary school at Westport School and Lowell School on Keyes Road after the family bought a small farm in Hughson. At Hughson High School he was student body president and played basketball, track, and baseball. He enlisted in the US Army after graduation, was assigned to the 8th Army Air Force fl ying and repairing radio controlled target drones in Japan and Korea during the occupation then was discharged in 1949.
With the outbreak of the Korean War, Glenn was recalled into service and assigned to Ft. Lewis, Washington, processing soldiers for deployment. He competed on the Ft. Lewis basketball team in AAU tournaments in the Seattle area.
Following his second discharge Glenn soon joined his brother-in-law Charlie Dayton as partner in Dayton & de la Motte Construction,
building new homes in the Turlock area. Both members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, they built the original sanctuary and parsonage on Minaret Avenue in Turlock as well as the expansion and enlargement of the new church in 1977.
Glenn and Myrna Jean Murphy met at Good Shepherd and were married on July 14, 1951. They lived in Turlock, moved to Denair
and while attending Good Shepherd served as president, secretary, treasurer, sang in the choir and taught Sunday School.
In 1955 Glenn and Charlie formed Art Craft Industries in Turlock, growing to employ 25 people and expanding to a second location in Sonora, California. They were also partners in Turlock Cabinet Shop and started Crown Cultured Marble.
Glenn was involved in the Rotary Club, Denair School Board, Turlock Little League and was a charter member of the Warrior Athletic Boosters at Stan State.
In 1980 Glenn and Myrna operated Allcove Kitchens and Baths in Sonora, California. Glenn soon designed and built a new mountainside home near Twain Harte, attended St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Sonora and led construction of their new Sanctuary.
In 2007, Myrna and Glenn retired and moved to Poulsbo, Washington on the Hood Canal. They attended Peace Lutheran Church in Bremerton, Washington. Glenn continued to share his faith in the Lord with others in retirement and even into assisted living.
Glenn was preceded in death by his wife Myrna, his parents Herman and Emilie, sisters Edna Reinertson and Florence Dayton, brothers Carl de la Motte and Melvin de la Motte.
He is survived by his children Mark (Laura) de la Motte of Turlock, California, Matthew (Susie) de la Motte of Sonora, California, Dean de la Motte of Newport, Rhode Island and daughter Daren (Robert) Schadt of Bremerton, Washington; grandchildren Sarah de la Motte, Rebecca Wisniakowski, Anya Boynton, Dustin de la Motte, Maria de la Motte, William de la Motte; and great-grandchildren Riley, Tyler and Audrey Boynton, Jacob and Michalina Wisniakowski, Norah and Carl de la Motte, Bastian and Annika Falk and Rocco de la Motte-Federico.
Please make donations in remembrance of Glenn to Lutheran World Relief or your favorite charity.
Memorial service will be held Friday March 8th at 12:00 at Good Shepherd Lutheran in Turlock.
