Batchelder, Glenna L. 1947-2026 Denver, Colo.
DENVER, Colo. – Glenna Lee (Zimmerman) Batchelder, 78, passed away peacefully on Jan. 6, 2026, in Denver, Colorado, after a five year journey with Frontotemporal Dementia. Up until the end Glenna maintained her joy of talking with friends and strangers alike. Whether they knew Glenna or had just met, everyone she encountered received an enthusiastic “I love you!” and an invitation to her kitchen table.
Glenna was born on March 7, 1947, to Elma (Gilbertson) and Lloyd Zimmerman, the youngest of their three children. Her family ran a grocery store in Poplar, Montana. After graduating from Poplar High School, she received her bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University and later obtained a master’s degree in education. While attending KSU, she met the love of her life, Bill Batchelder, who perfectly balanced Glenna’s bubbly energy with his quietly reserved style. Bill convinced Glenna in 1969 to get married and return to his hometown of Highland, Kansas, where he ran his family’s dairy farm. Glenna’s older brother moved nearby shortly after, followed by her parents. Bill and Glenna welcomed son, David William, in 1971 and daughter, Amy Lee, in 1974. David and Amy grew up near lots of extended family, learning from grandmothers and playing with cousins.
After a short stint teaching at Wathena High School, Glenna accepted a position at Highland Community College in 1971, where she dedicated 44 years to teaching, coaching, and admissions recruiting. Glenna had a knack for connecting with young people, and in 1974 found herself coaching women’s college volleyball, a sport she never played. Her lack of experience never held her back, and she finished her career as one of the winningest volleyball coaches in Kansas history, an obvious choice for the College’s Hall of Fame. Many of her former players (especially first-generation college students) recall a mother-like relationship with “Coach B,” and Glenna took more pride in their degrees, successful careers, and families than their successes on the court.
Many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and friends spent innumerable days and nights around Glenna’s large kitchen table laughing and eating their favorite home-cooked Batchelder meals. Once Glenna and Bill’s grandchildren arrived, Amelia, Ella, and Claire, they quickly became her world. She rooted loudly at grandkids’ activities and bored her friends with details from the exciting lives of her three “girls.” One of her favorite pleasures was shopping for and buying the girls dress-up clothes.
Glenna generously donated her time after retirement from HCC, continuing her volunteer work at Highland United Methodist-Presbyterian Church and the local nursing home. Glenna loved decorating and entertaining, colorful home decorations, fancy tableware, and fun fabrics, but mostly she loved people. She combined her interests, working part-time in her retirement at the legendary home decor retailer Nell Hill’s original location in Atchison, Kansas, where she was a top seller (and always spent more than she made).
Glenna was preceded in her eternal reward by her parents and brother, Donald Zimmerman, of Hiawatha, Kansas, and her husband, Bill.
She is survived by her sister, Lois (Zimmerman) Scherting and husband Robert, of Helena, Montana; her son, David Batchelder and wife Becky, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; daughter, Amy Batchelder Handlin and husband Jeff, of Englewood, Colorado; granddaughters, Amelia Handlin, Ella Handlin and Claire Batchelder; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 10:30 a.m. at Highland United Methodist-Presbyterian Church, 101 South Ave, Highland, Kansas. An open house reception will follow until 2 p.m. at Glenna’s kitchen table, 427 240th Road, Highland, Kansas. Memorial donations will go to Highland Community College Foundation in her name (606 W. Main Street, Highland KS 66035). As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.
