Glenn Michael Burkel

Glenn Michael Burkel (b. 11/05/1947), a proud son of Green Bay, Wisconsin who found his home under Texas skies, was called to his heavenly reward at age 78 on February 20, 2026, in Athens, Texas. Surely the angels are singing his favorite hymn, "What a Day That Will Be," a melody of hope penned by Jim Hill in 1958, welcoming him into that eternal dawn he so faithfully anticipated.

Roots Deep and Loyalty Fierce

From the frozen fields of Wisconsin, Glenn carried the unbreakable spirit of the Green Bay Packer, a devotion that lit up his eyes with every cheer and sharpened his wit against those Bears he loved to best. That same unyielding passion poured into his family, where he cherished his children and their spouses, Paula Higgins (Joe), Jayson (Laura), Curtis (Michelle), and Randy (Gabey); and all the grandchildren and great-grandchildren who were the true treasures of his days. A craftsman at heart, he swung cranes and shaped legacies as a general contractor, his hands calloused not just from labor, but from building what endures, much like his service in the United States Army Corps of Engineers, where he gave himself to something greater than himself.

Adventures Woven with Joy

Glenn chased the wild call of the outdoors with the vigor of a man half his age-a certified SCUBA diver plumbing ocean depths, a fisherman spinning yarns of the big one that slipped away, and a golfer whose swings may have wandered, but whose laughter never faltered. He met every creature with a tenderness that belied his rugged frame, a reminder that true strength lies in compassion and the simple grace of being present. In him burned that quintessentially American fire: to explore, to laugh at our stumbles, and to embrace each day as a gift worth savoring fully.

A Quiet Farewell, An Enduring Light

Preceded in rest by his parents, Curtis Joseph Burkel (1911 – 1985) and Geraldine Mary Hager Burkel (1912–1990), and his sisters Shirley Erickson (1937 – 1998), Janice Smith (1940 – 2010), and Barb Swenson (1945 – 2021), Glenn now dwells with the Lord in the peace he earned. Honoring his wishes, no services will mark his passing; his ashes will scatter privately, a final voyage as free-spirited as the life he lived. Let us remember him by rooting deep in our own loves, cheering boldly for what matters, and finding song in the ordinary miracles around us. Glenn's story calls us to live with that same joy, that same grit, binding us across generations in the promise of better days ahead. May God cradle his soul, and may His comfort enfold those who remain.