This year, Gleaner Life Insurance Society celebrates its 125th anniversary. In anticipation of the official anniversary on Oct. 12, we’re taking a look back at how far we’ve come. Join us for a stroll down memory lane.

On Oct. 12, 1894, Grant Slocum, a farmer’s son, founded Gleaner Life Insurance Society in Caro, Michigan, to protect farmers and their families. His vision filled a gap in the life insurance market created by the fact that most other insurers frowned on insuring hardworking farmers. 

Slocum and other early adopters (Sherman Chase, a trained physician, and John Ealy, a banker, among others) worked tirelessly to establish the Society and recruit members. In just four years, Gleaner Life had 301 arbors and 8,601 members. That rapid growth continued for many years.

In Gleaner’s early years, arbor meetings were a family affair and featured many traditional practices of the day. Because so many members lived in rural areas, the meetings were a chance to socialize as much as they were about accomplishing the Society’s business.

In addition to arbor meetings, Gleaner kept members informed with the Gleaner Newspaper. Slocum owned a newspaper, so publishing this monthly paper was natural for him. Slocum even printed and mailed the issues to all members free of charge. Eventually, the Society began to pay the expenses, and publication switched from a newspaper format to a monthly magazine. Today, it is known as Forum Magazine and is published quarterly.

Since its inception, Gleaner has prided itself on serving others. Among many examples, it advocated early in its creation for equal insurance opportunities for women and for the establishment of rural restrooms, where travelers could stop along the highway. Although modern society might take public restrooms for granted, this service provided a great convenience in the early 20th century. Gleaner also established a home for aging members.

The Great Depression and World War II presented challenges, but the Society survived, thanks to sound leadership and difficult decisions. Despite a “war exclusion clause,” Gleaner paid out death claims during the war to members — never losing sight of the principles on which the Society was founded.

While Gleaner survived these difficult periods, it had challenges to overcome going forward. So it went to work at righting the financial strain the Great Depression and war had placed on the Society. And Gleaner successfully paid back its debt in 1946 — four years ahead of schedule!

In the decades to follow, Gleaner Life, along with most fraternal benefit societies, experienced challenges with growing membership. Service-mindedness and a return to fraternalism were deemed vital to our success by then-Gleaner President Richard Ransford.

By the mid-1970s, Gleaner assets had reached nearly $39 million, and insurance had increased to nearly $170 million. Though membership numbers had declined, growth had taken place to set the stage for the next half of Gleaner’s history.

Gleaner Life anticipated a new era as the 1970s moved into the 1980s. The changes would be as significant as any since the fraternal organization’s founding in 1894.

George Ransford, who had served as president since 1946, retired in 1979. Gleaner assets had grown to about $39 million during his term. He was succeeded by vice president Frank Dick and planning carried on to relocate Gleaner Life’s headquarters from metropolitan Detroit. The company had long sought a return to its roots among farmers and rural residents, and it found a suitable site on an old farm in Adrian, Michigan. Ground was broken in 1980, and Gleaner Life Insurance Society moved into its new headquarters on Aug. 14, 1981.

Strong growth followed, increasing twentyfold over the next 20 years. The number of agents selling Gleaner policies surpassed 400 members. Assets topped $1 billion in 2003 and stood at $1.24 billion at the close of 2018. The society maintained its “A- (Excellent)” insurance industry rating, and its overall bond rating was “A+” as of Dec. 31, 2018.

Arbor activities to benefit their communities gained support with the Samaritan program in 1995. Arbors received Star Awards based on charitable events held, hours served and money donated to community causes. Gleaner arbors were part of the first nationwide service day for fraternal benefit societies, Join Hands Day, launched in 2000. Gleaner arbors in 2017-18 listed 1,112 events or meetings and $490,467 donated locally.

Old traditions expanded and grew over the past 30 years. Student scholarships were revived, growing from five in 1980 to 120 in 2005, with a value of $229,000 in 2018. An annual picnic was started at the Home Office for members of all states served, which were just nine in 1982. This changed in 2017 to increase participation, evolving into a series of Gleaner-sponsored Family Days at regional attractions such as the Six Flags and Cedar Point amusement parks. Family Days carry on the family theme as members gather for a complimentary meal.

Today, Gleaner serves customers in 16 states and has arbors in six of those. Its administration and information technology have become models among fraternal benefit groups. Secure internet connections have transformed storing and accessing data that once depended on processing applications and paying death claims by hand. Kevin A. Marti has served since 2012 as the ninth president and CEO of Gleaner Life.

The steady growth over the past 125 years reflects Gleaner Life’s original commitment to financial protection, fraternal benefits and volunteer opportunities.

Help us celebrate

Convert a Just For Kids^® certificate to permanent life insurance

One way Gleaner families show loved ones how much they care is with our Just For Kids® certificates. And with our online purchase process, giving the ultimate gift of love is now easier than ever.

That’s not all! In celebration of Gleaner’s 125th anniversary, Gleaner Life Insurance Society is allowing owners of existing Just For Kids® certificates to convert to a permanent life insurance plan outside of the normal conversion periods. The open conversion period began Feb. 18, 2019.

Eligibility requirements

• The certificate must have been issued on or before Dec. 31, 2018.
• The certificate must be in force at the time of conversion.
• The program is available beginning Feb. 18, 2019.
• Required forms must be received on or before Dec. 31, 2019.

Contact your Gleaner agent for more information or call 800.992.1894.  

Join us at convention

The 59th Biennial Convention falls during our official anniversary, so if you attend, please plan to join us in the celebration! There will be a history room where you can read interesting facts and see various artifacts from our rich history.

We hope you will join us to celebrate turning 125 years. Saturday evening will begin with a banquet dinner followed by a concert experience you won’t want to miss. Your Generation in Concert™ brings unique stylings, vibrant energy and a diverse music selection that pleases crowds from all generations. You will be sure to flash back to fond memories of your all-time favorite tunes. If that’s not enough, what birthday would be complete without a big celebration?