Richard Gless Guess

Richard Glee Guess, age 85, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, passed away on Saturday, November 20th, 2021, at the St. Luke’s Hospice House of Kansas City with wife Donna at his side, in typical Glee fashion . . . after the Iowa State game. Glee was born on May 14, 1936, on the family farm in Albany, to Wayne and Doris (Madden) Guess.

Glee graduated from Albany High School with the class of 1954, and served in the National Guard through 1962. He furthered his education at Northwest Missouri State University, where he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity; Central Missouri State University; University of Missouri; University of Nebraska; Iowa State University; and Drake University while pursuing certificates and degrees in Business Education, Business Administration, Guidance and Counseling, Educational Administration, Specialist Studies, and Education Law. Glee married Donna Kay McCracken on July 31, 1965, at Trenton Baptist Church in Trenton, Missouri. Glee and Donna were blessed (some days Glee may have said cursed) with three children: Chris, Jill, and Jodi.

Glee worked in education for 37 years. The education business first took Glee to Corning, Iowa, where Glee served as a high school business and industrial arts teacher from 1963-1965. He then went to Hamburg, Iowa, and served as high school principal from 1965-1968. After Hamburg, Glee went to Van Meter as the superintendent of schools from 1968-1978. While in Van Meter, Glee had a variety of rental properties and owned/operated the Bulldog Inn ice cream shop with Donna. Glee took a three-year sabbatical from the education world and worked with partner Ken Pashek in a basement construction business they started in DeSoto, Iowa, in 1970. Glee worked as a silent partner with the exception of 1978-1981, when he was an active partner. Glee then headed to southern Iowa and served as superintendent of schools in Seymour from 1981-1996. Glee and Donna owned/operated Eleanore’s Flower Kart in Trenton, Missouri, during that time from 1991-1996. After retiring from Iowa, Glee then completed his educational circle of life and returned “home” to Albany, Missouri, where he served as superintendent of schools from 1996-2002.

While an educator, Glee served his community in many capacities: Lions Club, Za-Ga-Zig Shrine, Masonic Lodge, Vice Commander American Legion, President of the Blue Grass Conference, Rathbun Area Health Services Board, Seymour Little League Softball Coach, Seymour Industrial Development Committee, Seymour City Council, Rotary-Chamber of Commerce, Accredited Albany R-III School with “Distinction” for improvement in performance his second year on the job, and coordinated the dedication of the track complex in the name of Wayne and Doris Guess. Professional memberships included the American Association of School Administrators, Iowa Association of School Administrators, President of AEA 15 Superintendents, Member of the Iowa State Coordinating Council, and Missouri Association of School Administrators. Honors and accomplishments were many, but most important to him were successfully getting football at Van Meter in 1980 when son Chris was a freshman, then getting to see grandson Connor win a state football championship for Van Meter in 2017. While in Seymour, passed an elementary addition which included a new band room, elementary wing, kitchen, and cafeteria in 1981. Passed a school bond issue that included new ICN Room and Gymnasium, and spearheaded a program with IHCC for high school students to receive dual credits.

Glee was an avid supporter of his Mizzou Tigers, but made the change to Iowa State when grandson Connor Guess became the long-snapper for the Cyclones. Glee treasured time spent with his family, attending as many activities of the grandkids as he could possibly stand in Albia, Van Meter,  and Lee’s Summit. Visits from Arizona brothers, Vince and Bill, were always cherished, as well. Going to Prairie Meadows to watch brother Bill’s horse race was always a favorite. Before Parkinson’s took golf away from Glee, he always loved golf outings with the family and many friends. His hole in one shadow box still hangs proudly in his home.

Glee is survived by his wife, Donna of Lee’s Summit; children, Chris (Sheri) Guess of Van Meter, Iowa, Jill (Kevin) Crall of Albia, Iowa, Jodi (Chatten) Scruggs of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; grandchildren, Cassie (Colton) Cason of Pella, Iowa, Casey Guess of Waukee, Iowa, Cade Crall of Iowa City, Iowa, Connor Guess of Ames, Iowa, Charlee Scruggs of Lee’s Summit; brother Vince (Sandi) Guess of Scottsdale, Arizona, brother Bill Guess of Phoenix, Arizona; sister-in-law Glenda Guess of Springfield, Missouri; many nieces and nephews; and many life-long friends. Glee was preceded in death by his parents, Wayne and Doris Guess; six brothers: Max and sister-in-law Freda, Maurice and sister-in-law Nell, Forrest, Wendell and sister-in-law Margaret Ann, Jim and sister-in-law Twila, Larry; sister Joyce and brother-in-law Rex Newman.

Funeral Service:  10:00 AM Wednesday, November 24 at the Roberson-Polley Chapel, Albany.  Burial will be in the Grandview Cemetery, Albany.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service on Wednesday at the chapel, where friends may call anytime after 8:00 AM Wednesday morning. Memorial Contributions:  Silas Lee’s Crazy Animal Park in care of the Roberson-Polley Chapel, 403 N. Hundley, Albany, MO  64402.  Online condolences:  www.robersonpolleychapel.com