Glenn W. Offermann

Memorial services for Glenn W. Offermann of St. Paul, Minnesota, will be held Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at King of King Lutheran Church in Roseville, MN, with Reverend Steven Bielenberg officiating, Rev. Vue Lee assisting. Immediately following the service a meal will be served at the church, and burial will be held at Sunset Cemetery. Visitation will take place on Monday, January 23, at Wulff Funeral Home, 1485 White Bear Ave. N., St. Paul, from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. and also from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. Memorial contributions may be made to King of Kings Lutheran Church and School, Roseville, MN; Concordia University, St. Paul, MN; or Lutheran Hour Ministries.

Glenn Walter Henry Offermann, son of Armin and Luella (Dann) Offermann, was born May 20, 1936 on a farm in the small village of Wartburg, Illinois, in Monroe Country. He was baptized into the Christian faith on May 31, 1936. He had no siblings, but grew up surrounded by his grandparents and the loving parish family at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Wartburg. He attended a one-room country school at the church until the 8th grade and was confirmed in the Christian faith on April 2, 1950. Glenn attended Waterloo High School in Waterloo, Illinois, where he was the editor of the school paper and president of FFA. His active parish life continued; Glenn often drove friends to Walther League events and he served as president of the Southern Illinois District's Walther League Zone. After graduating from high school in 1954, Glenn attended Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, Illinois, graduating in 1958 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree. While at RF, Glenn faithfully corresponded with his grade school friend and high school sweetheart, Marilyn. And on July 19, 1958, he was united in marriage to Marilyn Wirth at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Wartburg, IL.

Following their marriage, they moved to Atkins, IA, near Cedar Rapids, where Glenn took a Divine Call as principal/teacher at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church and School. He also served as organist/choir director. In 1960, Glenn took a Divine Call to be the librarian at Luther South High School in Chicago, IL, and he served there until 1967. Glenn and Marilyn lived in an apartment in Chicago and enjoyed the fellowship with church members of Hope Lutheran Church and later moved to a house in Hickory Hills. Glenn attended classes at the University of Chicago and earned his Masters in Library Science degree in 1965.

On June 14, 1967 , they moved to Roseville, Minnesota, and Glenn began a 33-year Divine Call to Concordia College, St. Paul, MN, as Director of Library Services/Head Librarian. During that time, since 1975, Glenn served as archivist for the Minnesota South District, even writing the centennial history of the District, Missouri in Minnesota, in 1982. In 1976, Glenn began his tenure as a Board member of CLIC (Coordinating Libraries in Consortium), serving in various roles, including president, until his retirement in 2000. In 1977 he received his Doctorate Degree from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL; he also served as a teaching assistant for the Department of Instructional Materials. Following retirement, Glenn and Marilyn spent time babysitting their grandchildren, getting together with the Concordia, St. Paul retiree group, and traveling.

Glenn and Marilyn are parents to Brian, born on October 5, 1973, and Brenda, born on August 9, 1976. Glenn loved camping, going on walks, board games, reading, serving in various roles on the school boards of King of Kings and Concordia Academy and as an elder at King of Kings. Glenn proudly was a lifelong member of Lutheran Education Association (LEA) and the Concordia Historical Institute (CHI) in St. Louis, MO, serving on the editorial committee for the publication Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly. Glenn was a member of the American Library Association and Minnesota Library Association across his career. He served on the J.J. Hill Reference Library Board for 25 years. He will be missed dearly by his friends and family and remembered fondly by former students, colleagues, and congregation members.

Since Sunday, January 15, 2023, Glenn rests in the arms of His Savior Jesus, as He awaits the Resurrection on the Last Day. He patiently struggled with Parkinson's for many years. He was 86 years old. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years: Marilyn (Wirth) Offermann of Roseville; two children: Brian Offermann of Roseville and Brenda (Rev. Chad) Trunkhill of Denison, Iowa; two grandchildren: Payton Trunkhill and Ainsley Trunkhill, both of Hutchinson, KS; three nieces and one nephew: Sharon (Gary) Abernathy, Beverly (Donald, Sr.) Prince, Susan (Darrell) Boland of St. Louis, MO, and Eugene (Cheryl) Keckritz of Colorado Springs, CO; and many grand- and great-grandnieces and nephews.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared below for the Offermann family.