Glenn Ralph Erber

Glenn Ralph Erber was born on July 5, 1931, in the home of Henry and Gladys (Loveland) Erber on their farm in Glenburn, North Dakota. He was born again into God’s family through baptism a few days later. Glenn and his wife, Lois, were blessed with and by a large, loving family; he blessed many others through 40 years of church work; and, even in retirement, he continued to serve, blessing people on three additional continents.

Glenn is survived by his wife Lois, his sister Gladys (John) Eichelberg, and his sister-in-law Jane Erber. He was preceded in death by his siblings Arnold Erber, Henry Erber, Jr., Inez (Roger) Brown, Florence (Lytle) Cook, and Norman (Sharyl) Erber.

God blessed Glenn and Lois with their children Julee (Ron) Shaw of Jackson; the Rev. Dr. David (Joyce) Erber of Accra, Ghana; Amee (Rev. Mark) Boettcher of Jackson, Missouri; and Betsy (Rev. Steve) Stolarczyk of Unionville, Michigan. Those blessings only grew through the years with the addition of grandchildren: Matthew Shaw, Bethanee (Leif) Palland, Miriam Sunderman, Morgan (Seth) Yellowfox, Charity Sunderman, Dr. Luke Erber, Jonathan Erber, Naomi (Michael) Ersland, Faith Boettcher, Grace Boettcher, Paul Boettcher, Michael Stolarczyk, Owen Stolarczyk, Caleb Block, Lex Stolarczyk; and great-grandchildren: Autmn, Sebastian, Benjamin, and Frankie Shaw; Austin, Zoey, and Barrett Miller; Elizabeth, Lucy, and Jack Yellowfox; Josephine and Jeffrey Burton; and Evelyn Stolarczyk. In spite of physical distance, the whole family remained close through their shared love and Glenn’s rich sense of humor. They were blessed in their community with wonderful neighbors who, through the years, became good friends, sharing his joy and satisfaction in gardening, reading, woodworking, the Detroit Tigers, the Detroit Lions, and Michigan State sports.

Glenn started on the path to full time church work from an early age. After reaffirming his faith in the Rite of Confirmation, he was enrolled at Concordia High School in Seward, Nebraska, going on to study at Concordia Teachers College on the same campus. His teaching ministry took him first to a one room Lutheran school in Hoxie, Kansas. Upon graduation, God also blessed him with the gift of a wife, Lois (Kellner), on August 1, 1954, and, together, they began teaching at Zion Lutheran School, Tobias, Nebraska, where Glenn served as a teacher, principal, organist, choir director, youth group leader, Sunday School director, janitor, and congregational secretary.

Glenn would go on to serve Christ Lutheran School in Columbus, Nebraska, before accepting the call to serve as the second principal at Trinity Lutheran Church, Jackson, Michigan, in 1966. While at Trinity, he took part in three major building programs, established a preschool program and a childcare facility, and transitioned the school into the computer age. He led the school faithfully, doing whatever was needed, including driving a school bus. He also served the Michigan District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as a member of the Board of Directors, as the Chairman of the South and East Teachers Conference, as the Program Chairman and Conference Chairman of the District Principals’ Conference, and as a member of the District Accreditation Committee.

Glenn continued to serve at Trinity after his retirement, leading a Bible study and visiting shut-ins. He also served beyond Trinity, filling in for two years at St. Matthew Lutheran School, Holt, and handling teacher placement at Concordia University, Ann Arbor. He and Lois also taught missionary children in Nigeria for two years and served mission trips around the US, Poland, Venezuela, and the Virgin Islands. God blessed Glenn’s life with many dear friends along the way and he was a blessing to many more.

Finally, on January 28, 2022, God blessed Glenn with a holy death and took him home to rest in the arms of Jesus to await the resurrection of the dead. “Jesus said . . . “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live!" (John 11:25-26).

The funeral service will be Thursday, February 3, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 122 West Wesley Street, Jackson. Visitation will begin at the church at 10:00 AM until the time of service at 11:00 AM. The Rev. Galen Grulke will be officiating. Glenn will be laid to rest with a private ceremony at HIllcrest Memorial Park. Memorial donations may be given to Trinity Lutheran School and/or Lutheran Hour Ministries.