David Gene Glenn

David Gene Glenn of Swansea, IL, passed away on July 30, 2026, at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon, IL, at the age of 79, with his loving wife at his bedside. He was born on March 28, 1947, in Anadarko, OK, to George Nelson Glenn and Helen Grace (née Tutten) Glenn. After dating for five years, he married Terry (née Southerland) Glenn in St. Louis, MO, on June 20, 1987, sharing a beautiful 44-year journey together.

David pursued many paths throughout his life, including service to his country in both the Army and Air Force National Guards, sheet metal work, construction, and production management. His proudest professional accomplishments, however, grew directly from his most significant personal achievement: his sobriety. David gratefully lived with 42 years of sobriety and was immensely proud to have died sober. Driven by a desire to share the gift and journey of recovery with others, David returned to school later in life. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Missouri–St. Louis, followed by a Master of Arts degree in Professional Counseling from Lindenwood University. He dedicated the remainder of his career to helping others as an addiction counselor, ultimately retiring in 2015 from the Gateway Foundation residential treatment facility in Caseyville, IL, as a Licensed Professional Counselor treating co-occurring disorders.

He touched the hearts of everyone he met through his approachable, kind-hearted demeanor. David was known by all for his integrity, commitment, resilience, thoughtfulness, words of wisdom, sharp wit, and trademark sarcasm. An avid fan of the St. Louis Blues, David also enjoyed fishing, music, cars, and the ongoing challenge of trying to learn modern technology. He possessed a deep love for animals, humorously naming every single dog he ever owned “Spot.” In his later years, he was surrounded by great love, finding comfort in the time he spent with his wife, his sister-in-law Denise, his nephew Bryan, his great-niece Peyton, and the family cats, Lucky and Lily.

David was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Emma Jo “Joan,” his brother, Don, and his sisters-in-law, Bernadine and Glenda. He is survived and dearly missed by his wife, Terry; his children, Richard (Michelle), Dava, and Scott (Cindy); and his brother, James “Bud.” He is also survived by his sister-in-law Denise, many loving grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and a supportive recovery community.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to a charity of your choice or to The Bluebird Forget-Me-Not Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing care resources and financial assistance to families navigating Alzheimer's and dementia. A visitation will be held on August 21, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Lake View Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens, located in Fairview Heights, IL. A short memorial service offering anyone time to share memories and a catered gathering will immediately follow the visitation.