Glenn John DeSmith passed away on November 19, 2011 after a brief struggle with lung and brain cancer.

Glenn was born on June 5, 1942 in Glenwood City, Wisconsin, the sixth child of Ed and Anna (Berends) DeSmith.  He graduated from Glenwood City High School in 1960.  After high school, he went to work for the railroad in St. Paul, MN. 

Glenn entered the US Army in 1965 and was discharged in 1967.  He attended UWRF and graduated in May, 1972 with a degree of Bachelor of Science -Liberal Arts.  Glenn was a member of the UWRF-VETS Club where he met many friends that carried through his lifetime. Over the last few years,  he enjoyed coming to UWRF during Homecoming week-end to reminisce with many of those college friends.

In 1973, Glenn moved to Georgia and worked as a manager at JC Penny.  He returned home to Wisconsin in 1974.   During this time period, Glenn worked for the Minneapolis US Postal Service.  In 1987 he transferred to the Duluth MN post office and made the move to northern Wisconsin. Glenn retired from the post office in 2002.

Glenn followed Wisconsin sports;  Brewers in the spring/summer, Packers and Badgers in the fall.  Glenn never married, but he enjoyed being a part of the lives of his 11 nieces and nephews and their families.   

Glenn was preceded in death by parents  Ed and Anna DeSmith, sister Shirley Cassellius, brothers Rodney (Bud) and Roger, nephew Steven DeSmith, brother-in-law Earl Nieman, longtime friend Herman Wohlk, and his last puppy Cooper.

Left to mourn are his sister Joyce Nieman of Oakdale, MN,  brother  David DeSmith of Cedar Falls, WI, sisters-in-law  Marlys DeSmith and Karen DeSmith, both of Hammond, WI, and brother-in-law Marvin Cassellius of Emerald, WI,  nieces  Kay Cassellius of Glenwood City, WI, Susan DeSmith-Johnson of River Falls, WI, Debra DeSmith-Graf of Hammond, WI, Jill DeSmith of Glenwood City, WI, Kristin DeSmith of Anchorage, Alaska, Sara Nieman-Wilson of Dallas Texas, Amy DeSmith-Nadeau of Baldwin, WI, nephews, Daniel DeSmith of South St. Paul, MN, Michael DeSmith of Hudson, WI, and Richard Nieman of Eden Prairie, MN; 21 great-nieces and nephews, and  4 great-great nieces and nephews;  special  Barnes, WI area friends John and Joan Belch and their family, and Bob McGregor, his neighbor.

Internment and services will be held at the Northern Wisconsin Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Spooner Wisconsin on Friday, November 25, 2011 at 1:00PM.

The O’Connell Family Funeral Home and Countryside Crematory are assisting the family.