Glen Edgar Mccalmant

Glen Edgar McCalmant (90) passed away on October 20, 2008 at his home near Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Graveside Services will be held on Friday, October 24, 2008 at 3:00 P.M. in the Grandview Cemetery in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Glen was born in Grinnell, Kansas on November 6,1917, the eldest son of Edgar & Olive (Shirley) McCalmant's 12 children. The family moved to Minatare, Nebraska, where he received his education. Glen played football, basketball and track, where he received several awards. Glen drove a 1934 Model B truck helping the family move to North Idaho in November 1937. The family moved to Pleasant Valley, joining the Clifford McCalmant family for a short time, then moved to Ruby Creek. Times were very tough and feeding the large family was a monumental task and sometimes food was skimpy. Glen and two brothers, Charles & John joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and worked in the Camp Heyburn area constructing buildings, roads, bridges and trails. Glen told stories of hitching back & forth from their job at Heyburn and his fun times cooking for the camp. After his work for the CCCc's, Glen and brother Vern sawed timber in the Plummer area as a sign of the tough times, they never got paid! Glen then joined the Army in August 1941. He worked as an airplane and engine mechanic; he was involved in the campaigns in Central Burma and India. He received the American Defense Service, American Theatre Campaign, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign, with 2 Bronze Stars, Good Conduct, Distinguished Unit Badge and World War 11 Victory Medals. He was honorably discharged in December 1945. After returning home Glen & Vern sawed timber again, first in the Ruby Creek area, then many other places in the North Idaho and Yaak, MT. Times were still tough, because they still weren't always paid! He met and married Bonnie Jean Douglas October 29, 1948. He continued to work in the woods until 1963 when he went to work for the Kelson Lumber Co. and the other subsequent mill owners until retiring from W-I Forest Products in 1979. All the while working for others, Glen worked his own property, farming and logging with horses. He eventually bought a tractor, but always said he preferred working with the horses. Glen's love of life was his family, farm and work. He enjoyed the sports games on T.V., fishing and hunting. Glen is survived by his wife, Bonnie, at home in Bonners Ferry, sons Terry and Calvin, Moscow, Idaho, son Jack and his wife Mona, Davenport, WA, Granddaughter Tanya Thrift and her husband Brian, Dillon, MT, Grandson Brandon, stationed with the U.S. Army in Iraq, and his wife Kris and great grandchildren Jade, Theodore, and Raistlen, Colorado Springs, CO. He is also survived by two sisters, Lily Williams, Havre MT, Beulah Anderson, Naples and two brothers, Vern & Tad, Bonners Ferry. Glen was proceeded in death by parents, sisters, Alice Nagel and Myra Witherell, brothers, Donny, Neal, Charles, John(Mike) and Ned(Bosco). Family and friends are invited to sign Glen’s book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com Arrangement are entrusted to the care of Bonners Ferry Funeral Home.