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In Memoriam: William “Bill” C. Glenn

 

Your memorial contribution in Bill’s name will be placed in the William C. & Marjorie W. Glenn Endowment Fund.

William “Bill” C. Glenn, a friend of the Foundation and former board of directors member passed away on August 21, 2021.

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William (Bill) Charles Glenn, 82, of Aurora, IL, Ephraim, WI and Sanibel, FL passed away on the evening of Friday, August 20, 2021.

Bill was born in Aurora on February 14, 1939, an appropriate day for such a loving man. Everyone who knew him loved him, and freely shared that sentiment with him and his family. A man of wisdom and generosity, Bill had a twinkle in his eye, a smile on his face, and a gifted sense of humor. He was the only child of William Daniel and Opal Wave (Tatham) Glenn. He graduated from East Aurora High School (Class of 1957) where he was an All-State athlete in football, basketball, and track. After graduation, Bill attended Dartmouth College and Tuck School of Business where he received both a B.A. and an M.B.A. At Dartmouth, Bill was a member of the SAE fraternity, the football team, and the rugby club. Many of the friendships he found there lasted his entire life.

Following graduation, Bill proudly returned to his hometown to work for the family business, Olsson Roofing Company. Bill went on to purchase Olsson from his parents, successfully growing it with his wife and his management team for over 40 years. Under Bill’s leadership until 2004, Olsson became one of the largest commercial roofing and sheet metal companies in the greater Chicagoland area since its inception in 1914.

Bill and Marjorie (Mardi) Willett were married on July 27, 1968 at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Aurora. There, they were partners in life, supporting each other through work, family, faith, and community. Mardi was the love of his life, and he excelled at making her smile. They raised their three children (and many dogs, cats, and hamsters), before moving full time to Ephraim and Sanibel. Bill (or Poppe as his grandchildren called him) loved his family – both visiting and traveling with them to many wonderful locales. Some of their favorite trips together were to Italy, Greece, the Caribbean, Costa Rica, and Kauai’i.

In his spare time, Bill was a skilled gardener – enjoying the process of planning and cultivating various different gardens at his home. He loved playing golf, boating and swimming. He was an avid reader, an American History buff, and a connoisseur of Robert Frost poetry. Bill took great pride in his country and served in the U.S. Army National Guard. He was an active civic volunteer and sat on many boards of various professional and non-profit organizations. Bill was also known for his epic parties, dance moves, and 4th of July firework displays in Ephraim.

Bill is survived by Mardi his loving wife of 53 years; children, Susan Glenn (Roberto Rivera Martinez), Bill (Kristen) Glenn, and Sara Glenn (Brian Reinhardt); grandchildren, Logan and Duncan Smith, Will and Katie Glenn, and Griffin and Quinn Reinhardt; sister-and-brother-in-law, Nancy and Frosty Smith; three nieces and their families; and several cousins. Also, a loving grand dog, Izzy, who would often be at his side – especially at dinnertime. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Opal Glenn.

The family is extremely grateful to the Door County EMS and the Door County Sheriff’s Department for their professional and caring assistance.

In honor of his wishes, Bill will be laid to rest at the Church of the Atonement Memorial Gardens in Fish Creek, Wisconsin. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Bill’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association National Office located at 225 N. Michigan Ave. FL 17, Chicago, IL 60601.

 

Your memorial contribution in Bill’s name will be placed in the William C. & Marjorie W. Glenn Endowment Fund.

Being a part of the Community Foundation scholarship committee is the highlight of my year. For many, a scholarship from the CFFRV is the reason they are able to continue reaching for their dreams and changing the future of our world. I hope each recipients knows just how inspirational they are to those of us who are lucky enough to read their stories.

Jessica Breugelmans

Scholarship Committee Member and Board Member

I am incredibly grateful for the generosity of the Zari Foundation Scholarship and the Community Foundation in supporting my education. I am majoring in mechanical engineering with a concentration in aerospace engineering at the Rose-Hulman Institue of Technology. In my spare time, I volunteer on campus, in the community and I’m also the principal violist in the symphony orchestra. I hope to make an impact on the next chapter of space exploration by eventually working at a groundbreaking aerospace company such as SpaceX or NASA.

Taytum Newell

Albert M. Zari Scholarship Recipient

YEP was a great experience to have in high school. I became a more confident person, someone with a lot more perspective. Coming from a small school, YEP allowed me to branch out into my community, meet students from other schools, and learn about their backgrounds. I made some great friends and still keep in touch with them today.

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YEP Alumni

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Michelle Emanuel

Donor and Past Scholarship Recipient

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Grantee

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Donor & Fund Advisor

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YEP Member

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