Glenn S. Cisco

Celebrating the Life of Glenn Cisco

Today, we honor and celebrate the life of Glenn Cisco-a beloved husband, father, grandfather, veteran, community member, and lifelong volunteer.

Early Days

Glenn was born and raised in Southern California's Rolling Hills area. His father, Roy, a WWII veteran, started a trucking business that he ran alongside Glenn's mother, Ruth.

From the age of seven, Glenn spent summers in Pinedale, Wyoming, on his aunt and uncle's 20,000-acre ranch. There, he rode horses across vast landscapes, learned to fix fence posts and bale hay, and hunted deer and elk to help live off the land. Those formative summers shaped Glenn's deep connection to nature, self-sufficiency, and hard work.

Photos from that time show Glenn with a pet deer outside the Wyoming family home. Family stories include one memorable night when he huddled in a pickup truck, battling a swarm of mosquitoes so relentless they came in through every crack in the frame. (Today's mosquitoes don't stand a chance in comparison.)

A Life of Service and Work

Following in his father's footsteps, Glenn served his country with honor. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant, working on F4 Phantom jets in Vietnam-keeping them operational and arming them for missions.

His time in the service took him around the world and gave him a profound appreciation for home. After witnessing war and life in other countries, Glenn found all the more reason to love-and stay in-the United States.

After returning home, Glenn began his career as a long-haul truck driver, traveling across the country and logging thousands of miles. He started driving for his parents around age 16, likely having mastered everything from tractors to 18-wheelers thanks to his time in Wyoming-even before he officially had a license.

Shortly after Vietnam, while developing some film in Chino, California, Glenn met a young woman named Mary. That moment sparked what seemed to be love at first sight. They married on her 18th birthday and soon began their life together on the road-hauling produce to Washington State and returning with apples to California.

Drawn to the natural beauty and slower pace of the Pacific Northwest, they eventually relocated to the Tacoma area. A few years into their marriage, they welcomed their first son, Jess, followed by Jason and later Justin. As their family grew, so did their home-moving from the outskirts of Tacoma to a larger house just a couple of miles away, where the Cisco family built a life and remained for more than 40 years.

A Man of Purpose and Principle

Throughout his life, Glenn wore many hats-truck driver, entrepreneur, union leader, and steadfast volunteer. He provided for his family through trucking and later pursued his dream of entrepreneurship by launching PTL Customizing in Tacoma. His shop specialized in customizing semis, vans, and more, always leaving customers delighted by his craftsmanship.

Glenn was also deeply committed to supporting his fellow workers. He served for years as a shop steward in his union, advocating for better conditions and rallying behind leaders who truly served the working class. He volunteered on campaigns and in the community, always striving to make a difference.

He also set a bold goal for himself: to retire early. And he did just that-retiring in his early 50s from his long-time employer, West Coast Grocery (later acquired by Super-Valu).

Retirement didn't slow him down-it gave him new opportunities to serve. Glenn and Mary became active in their church and volunteered at a local food bank, preparing food boxes for families each week. Glenn also worked closely with veterans, helping them process the trauma and burdens of war. The couple opened their home and their hearts to many, creating a community grounded in kindness, generosity, and love.

Legacy Through Family

No account of Glenn's life is complete without acknowledging his most lasting legacy: his investment in his family.

He raised three sons into thoughtful, caring men, and when he became a grandfather nearly two decades ago, he poured just as much love and energy into that role. Glenn and Mary did far more than the typical grandparents-welcoming grandkids into their home nearly every weekend for over a decade. Whether to give their parents a break or to instill strong values, those visits were a cornerstone of the family's life.

Alyssa, Jacob, Jaelyn, and later Hunter all knew the joy of games in the yard, playful dogs, and meals around the family table-woven together by Glenn's steady presence and boundless love.

While we mourn the profound loss of Glenn, we are also filled with gratitude for the life he lived and the love he gave. As Jess's colleague Chris Halladay shared, "The pain we feel from this short separation we call death is only because of the blessings, love, and joy we shared during life." He also offered a reminder for all of us: "This is a moment when our perspectives are adjusted more accurately to what is important in life."

A Danish children's book by Glenn Ringtved, Cry, Heart, But Never Break, offers this comforting image:

"Ever after, whenever the children opened a window, they would think of their grandmother. And when the breeze caressed their faces, they could feel her touch."

We believe the same is true of Glenn. We will feel his spirit in quiet moments, hear his voice in our memories, and see his legacy reflected in the family he so deeply loved.

Glenn is survived by his wife, Mary; his son Jess and daughter-in-law Jen; his son Jason and daughter-in-law Liz and their children, Alyssa and Jacob; his son Justin and daughter-in-law Noel and grandchildren Jaelyn and Hunter, along with step-grandchildren and many extended family members and friends.

And as the author Maira Kalman once wrote:

"When Tibor died, the world came to an end. And the world did not come to an end. That is something you learn."

We are learning. And we are grateful. Thank you, Glenn.