Glenn Hakes, 98, of Greenwood passed away at home surrounded by his loving family December 16, 2020. He was born March 17, 1922 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin to Ross and Edna (Books) Hakes.

Glenn was raised on a dairy farm in far northern Wisconsin near the city of Cornell where he graduated from high school.  He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in metallurgical engineering from the University of Wisconsin. While on a Greyhound bus traveling back to college he met the love of his life, Vera Brion. They courted through college and married in November of 1943. Glenn and Vera recently celebrated 77 years of marriage.  After college, Glenn began work for Western Electric in Chicago helping develop radar and later worked in Indianapolis where he spent the rest of his career. He was very innovative inventing a process for thin film gold plating which is still widely used in the electronics industry.  Glenn was deeply involved with the Boy Scouts, acting as troop leader of Troop 210 and later supported Troop 266 for many years.  He also served on the Central Indiana Council of Boy Scouts of America, later honored with the Silver Beaver award, one of the highest in the scouting organization.  While Glenn worked for Western Electric, he was a farmer at heart. He farmed their land east of Greenwood for many years along with his children, and still owned the farm.  Glenn was able to retire at a young age and he and Vera spent their early retirement years travelling the world spending considerable time in Europe and Asia.  He was a golfer and bowler as well as a member of numerous organizations including the Model A Club, Western Electric Pioneers Club, the Thursday Night Poker Club, and many others.  He loved learning, and he and Vera participated in the University of Wisconsin Alumni Lifelong Learning program.

He was community oriented and worked with outreach projects, such as Meals on Wheels and Boy Scouts organized through their church, Greenwood Presbyterian where he was a member for 62 years serving as both a deacon and an elder as well as in many other capacities.  Above all, Glenn enjoyed his family. He spent time with his children as they were growing up, teaching them the ways of the world, and later, he and Vera spent as much time as they could with the grandchildren, going to as many extra-curricular activities as possible.  Glenn lived and an amazing 98 years, he will be greatly missed by all his family and friends.

Glenn will be remembered by his wife, Vera; children, Tom (Ellen) Hakes, John (Hyon Sil) Hakes, Kathleen (Michael) Wood, and Dannette (Larry) Morgan; seven grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

In addition to his parents, Glenn was preceded in death by his sisters, Helen Snelson, Joyce Veicht, Irene Beaudot, and Catherine Hewitt.

A private family graveside service will be held at Forest Lawn Funeral Home on Wednesday, December 23.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Greenwood Presbyterian Church, 102 W. Main Street, Greenwood, IN 46142; Greenwood Meals on Wheels, c/o Birgit Krieck, Treasurer, 1100 Arroyo Road, Greenwood, IN 46143; or Boy Scout Troop 266, 102 W. Main Street, Greenwood, IN 46142.