Glenna Lee (Zimmerman) Batchelder, 78, passed away peacefully on January 6, 2026, in Denver, Colorado, after a courageous five-year battle with Frontotemporal Dementia.
Up until the end, Glenna radiated warmth and joy, delighting in conversations with both friends and strangers.
Everyone she met received an enthusiastic “I love you!” and an open invitation to her kitchen table.
Born on March 7, 1947, in Poplar, Montana, Glenna was the youngest of three children of Elma (Gilbertson) and Lloyd Zimmerman, who ran a local grocery store.
After graduating from Poplar High School, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University and later a master’s degree in education.
While attending KSU, Glenna met Bill Batchelder, the love of her life, whose quiet nature perfectly complemented her bubbly energy.
They married in 1969 and settled in Highland, Kansas, where Bill managed his family’s dairy farm.
Together, they raised two children: David William, born in 1971, and Amy Lee, born in 1974.
Glenna’s family life was enriched by the nearby presence of extended relatives, creating a close-knit environment filled with love and learning.
Glenna dedicated 44 years to Highland Community College, beginning in 1971 after a brief teaching stint at Wathena High School.
She taught, coached, and recruited students with unmatched passion, leaving a lasting impression on generations of young people.
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In 1974, she took on the challenge of coaching women’s volleyball, despite never having played the sport herself.
Her determination and talent led her to become one of Kansas’ most successful volleyball coaches and an honored member of the College’s Hall of Fame.
Former players often recall her as a motherly figure who celebrated their academic and professional achievements as much as their athletic ones.
Glenna’s warmth extended far beyond the classroom. Her kitchen table at home became the center of countless family gatherings, where nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews shared laughter and Batchelder home-cooked meals.
With the arrival of her granddaughters—Amelia, Ella, and Claire—Glenna found a new joy. She enthusiastically supported their activities and delighted in shopping for dress-up clothes, making every moment with them special.
Even after retirement, Glenna remained active in her community.
She volunteered at Highland United Methodist-Presbyterian Church and the local nursing home, and she shared her love of decorating and entertaining at Nell Hill’s original home decor store in Atchison, Kansas, where she became a top seller.
Glenna’s generosity, warmth, and devotion to people remained at the heart of everything she did.
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Glenna was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Donald Zimmerman of Hiawatha, Kansas, and her beloved 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; her daughter Amy Batchelder Handlin and husband Jeff of Englewood, Colorado; granddaughters Amelia Handlin, Ella Handlin, and Claire Batchelder; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 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 in her name may be made to the Highland Community College Foundation, 606 W Main Street, Highland, KS 66035.
