Glenn Lemasters Obituary, Death – Glenn Edwin Lemasters, 70, died in Franklin, IN on December 13, 2022. Born in Shelbyville, IN on September 28, 1952 to Maurice Edwin and Virginia “Ginnie” (Cuskaden) Lemasters. He graduated from Waldron High School in Shelby County, IN, in 1970. Later in life, Glenn earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Purdue University. His intelligence, intense curiosity, and analytical mind served him well at the Diamond Chain Company, but his true loves were caving and his daughter, Allison Lemasters Black.
Friends remember Glenn’s caving enthusiasm. His eyes gleamed as he recounted his fascinating (and risky) escapades. He helped form the Indiana Karst Conservancy, a non-profit dedicated to preserving Indiana’s karst features (aka landscape features commonly referred to as caves). He was member #3, joining in February 1986. Glenn served on the IKC Executive Board until 1992, volunteered at many workdays, and remained a member until his death.
Glenn was driven to explore new caves and drafted over 20 cave maps. Charles Cave, Honeymoon Cave, and Breathing Hole are multi-mile caves. One of his major successes was exploring Easter Pit and connecting it to Wyandotte Cave. He re-drew Richard Powell’s Wyandotte map and added additions to make it 9.4 miles long. He was passionate in caving and cave protection. Glenn loved Allison more than caving. He retired from engineering to be her fourth-grade stay-at-home dad. He’s known as a “pit dad” for her high school marching band. Glenn built props and contraptions for her shows using his engineering expertise (like a giant clarinet the size of a truck, or large air cannons to shoot balls and confetti out for a grand finale). He was the kind of dad you could always count on. He attended every performance and function and joked with his daughter, “If you went to jail, I’d see you every day…well, every other day.”
Glenn would do everything for a friend or daughter. His true home was nature, where he found peace and contentment trekking, camping, caving, and collecting rocks for his rock garden. Many will miss him because of dementia. Allison Lemasters Black and her husband, Paul, are currently stationed in Tacoma, WA, for Paul’s military service. His brother, Gregg Lemasters, and his wife, Nina, of Shelbyville, IN, and his dedicated friend and caretaker, Renee Furrow, all survive. Parents predeceased him.
Rev. Vey Kidney will hold a celebration of life on December 18, 2022, at 4:00 PM at Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center in Franklin, IN. www.swartzmortuary.com will livestream. The family will receive visitors from 3 PM till the funeral on Sunday, December 18, 2022. A light reception will follow at the same location. Donations can be made to the Indiana Karst Conservancy, P.O. Box 2401 Indianapolis, IN 46206, . 317-738-0202 for info.