Thomas Duane Glass

Our dad, Tom Glass, was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN, where he graduated from Marshall High School and was voted “King of Hearts” in his senior year. He was a member of the Mississippi Band of Ojibwe, White Earth Reservation. At 87 years old, he still maintained lifelong friendships with his classmates, Derald Hadrath and Bill Hagen. He was a family man, maintaining close relationships with his sisters, nieces, and nephews throughout his life.

He made it a priority to spend time with us when we were kids. He took us fishing, camping and played hours of catch with us. As we became adults he continued to be an involved dad.

He was known to call Andrea at 7am on a Saturday morning to see if she’d checked her spark plugs lately or Jeanne to see if she changed her furnace filter (she had). But he’d keep checking to the point that Kelly would call her and beg, “Can you please call dad and tell him you’ve changed your furnace filter?” When a friend of ours heard of his passing, she shared this note: “Here’s hoping he’s having fun changing filters in heaven.”

When we were teenagers, he told us he saw a billboard on the road that asked, “Have you hugged your kid today?” and forevermore gave all of us a hug when he got home from work. He was a fan of saying things like “You made your own bed” and “Aren’t you glad I didn’t spoil you?” He was our biggest fan and our most loving critic. He never raised his voice or disciplined us, yet even as adults we revered him and did whatever he said without question. If he said to sit down, we sat down.

He was funny, always joking around, and he kept a stockpile of masks and various voice and noise makers. He especially loved to hide behind doors and jump out and scare us. He would get mad if you happened to use the back door when he was hiding behind the front door.

Our dad seemingly had a photographic memory, and it was a waste of time to try to beat him at Trivial Pursuit, Jeopardy, or any other games of knowledge. He played the piano by ear, dabbled in the guitar and harmonica, and it was also a waste of time to try to beat him at “Name that Tune.” He loved to bet $1 on everything. Jeanne once lost a particularly important $1 bet to him, and he kept that dollar bill taped to his wall for the rest of his life so she would never forget it. He spent his fall and winter weekends watching football, and his summer weekends were spent at Canterbury Downs where he placed $2 bets and would sometimes ask if you wanted to “go in on it” with him.

For him there was basically 2 seasons- football and horse racing. Andrea would say to him -- "oh boy, football season is your time off from being a Dad season, let me know when it’s over” then he would say ok and after football then it’s boring for a while until Canterbury opens. The truth is he never took off time from being a Dad; he was supportive, encouraging and always ready to listen and help us with anything. Plus he always loved if he had a secret or was told one! He also had an uncanny ability to know when something was wrong whether you wanted to talk about it or not—like a 6th sense. Needless to say the 3 of us kept him very busy as he was involved in pretty much everything.

He gave Andrea a carbon monoxide alarm for her bday when she bought her first house. She teased him about who buys their daughter a carbon monoxide alarm for their bday- wow that’s like giving me a vacuum! To date, that carbon monoxide alarm has gone off 3 times so he would always say…….but remember I saved your life 3 times! That was him always protecting!

He loved to walk at the nature center and listen to concerts in the park. He liked literature and could recite “Osler Joe,” a favorite family poem from his childhood, by heart.

Dad liked classic cars and was mechanical. When he was in high school, our grampa told him if he could dig their old car out of the snowbank and get it running, he could have it. He rebuilt that car and others, including the 1969 Ford Falcon he bought for Jeanne when she turned 16. He was an excellent horseman who grew up with a horse of his own. He liked spirited horses, and when were young he would promise us if we got on the horse with him, he wouldn’t make it buck. Yet every time, as soon as we were on the horse, he would make it buck, and we would be screaming, our mom would be screaming, everyone would be screaming, but he would be roaring with laughter and telling all of us to stop being such big babies.

We’ve received so many kind words and memories about our dad since his passing. Thank you. This past year he created special relationships with his healthcare team. One of his hospice nurses told me when she first met him, “Boy, did he put me in my place” and yet “He was fun, and I couldn’t wait to see him again.” He could put you in your place in a way that made you like him all the more. Another nurse shared, “I am so so sorry for your loss. I know this is a very hard time for you and your family. I knew how much you loved your dad, but I pray that you find peace that passes all understanding for you all. You all be strong. Your dad was well taken care of by you girls. He was a good man and very soft spoken. He is in a better place now, at peace with his maker and proud of you girls. Continue to be strong for each other. Love, blessings, and peace.”

Our dad is survived and cherished by his daughters Kelly, Jeanne, and Andrea; granddaughters Rachel and Heather (Joe); great grandchildren Olivia, Emmitt, and Lucy; and his sister Marian. He is preceded by his parents, Katherine and Milton Glass; brother PVT Richard Glass; and sisters Katherine Pflepsen and Joann Revier.

Special thanks to Father Chad of St. Jude of the Lake for his spiritual guidance, last rights, and the lasting peace he gave to our dad; to Allina Hospice and the team at Synergy HomeCare for their care; and to our dear friend and nurse, Tony Delmonico, for his love, wisdom, and guidance -- and for sharing stories with dad about rebuilding your MG; he loved that.

While we have lost our dad and our best friend, we are blessed and grateful for our time with him beyond words. He will be in our hearts forever. We appreciate the flowers, food, gifts, thoughts, prayers, and messages that celebrate our dad and comfort us in our grief.

In lieu of flowers, please donate on our dad’s behalf to: The Autoimmune Association at autoimmune.org or to the Cancer Center Urgent Needs Fund, HCMC Foundation at 701 Park Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55415.