Donald E. Glessner

Donald E. Glessner, 97, a life resident of Sterling, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022 at LifeCare Hospice in Wooster.

Don was born on March 30, 1924 in Sterling to the late Clement D. and Vida E. (Sample) Glessner and was a 1943 graduate of Sterling High School.  He proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps from Feb. 23, 1943 – Feb. 1, 1946.  He served in the Asiatic Pacific area including Wallis Island, Samoa and Marshall Islands.  On Nov. 12, 1950 he married Ruth A. Maibach and she preceded him in death on Jan. 28, 2020 after 69 years of marriage.  Don retired from Wadsworth Furniture having previously worked at Glessner’s Restaurant and Maibach’s Home Furnishings.  During his high school years, he had worked on the B&O Railroad during the summers under Curtis Farber and during school time he worked on the Erie Railroad on weekends under Al Kerstetter, his brother-in-law.  

Don served on the Sterling Volunteer Fire Department for many years and as a result, he has two sons and his grandson also serving on the department.    He was a lifetime member of the Seville Veterans of Foreign Wars #8753 where he had made the wooden white crosses to hold the American Flag at veteran’s grave sites for Memorial Day Celebrations and where he and his good friend Roy Winkler ran the turkey shoots.  He was a lifetime member of American Legion Post 497, a member of the Sterling K of P Lodge and he drove the equipment truck for the Norwayne Football Team when his sons, Dick and Jim played in high school. 

Don over the years enjoyed vacationing at the family cottage in Harrison, MI, watching the Cleveland Indians and reading the newspaper. 

Surviving are his sons and daughters-in-law, Dick and Patty Glessner of Sterling, James and Ricki Glessner of Sterling, Jack and LeAnn Glessner of High Point, NC and Dale Glessner of Sterling; 5 grandchildren, Mandy, Tony, Jenni, Josh and Alexis; 3 step-grandchildren, Mandi, Tyler and Wyatt; 3 great-grandchildren and 4 step great-grandchildren; sisters: Janet Anshutz of Wooster and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth, his father in 1932, his mother in 1948 and sisters and brothers, Bessie Kerstetter, Helen Kerstetter, Ruth Hoosier, June Steele, Dale, Paul, Alton and Harry Glessner.

Private family services will be held on Sunday, Jan. 9th at Murray Funeral Home in Creston.  Burial will be in the Sterling Crown Hill Cemetery.  There will be no calling hours.  A public celebration of Don's life will be held later. Tributes may be shared at www.Murray-Funeral-Home.com  Memorial contributions may be made to the Donald and Ruth Glessner Family Fund at Wayne County Community Foundation for the benefit of the Sterling Fire Dept. and Sterling United Methodist Church, 517 North Market St., Wooster, OH 44691.

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