Glen D. Stadler

The Reverend Glen Dean Stadler, who also answered to Honey, Dad, Grampa, Dean-o, Pastor Glen, and PS, died peacefully October 22, 2015 at Ebeid Hospice after a three-year illness with esophageal cancer. Glen was born in Toledo on June 9, 1939, to Wilbur George and Margaret Elizabeth (Diener) Stadler and remained an enthusiastic Toledoan despite living elsewhere for several years. He was baptized at Glenwood Lutheran Church on Monroe Street. There, as a boy he was influenced by Pastor Alvin Bell, as well as by his uncle George Stadler, also a Lutheran pastor, and knew before he was a teenager that he wanted to enter the ministry. He was a 1957 graduate of DeVilbiss High School, after which he attended Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, earning a Bachelor’s degree in English. He then attended Hamma School of Theology at Wittenberg and was ordained into the Lutheran ministry in 1964. A few years earlier, he had been introduced to Ruth Ann Dreyer on a blind date arranged by his friend Ken Marvin and his (now) wife Sue. Ruth was the love of his life; he recently remarked to one of his sons that “she still melts my heart.” They married on Glen’s 23rd birthday. Together they had three sons, Michael, Timothy, and Jonathan. “The boys” were one of the few subjects on which he would brag, but he had more than enough love left to dote on his daughters-in-law, Brandi Smith, Lynne Sykora, and Ellen Dugan, his seven grandchildren, Joshua and Jessica; Carsten and Ainsley; Libby, Nate, and Sarah; and Joshua’s wife, Taylor Banks. During his long career, he served several congregations in Ohio, returning to Toledo in 1990 to serve Bethany Lutheran Church on Upton Avenue, across the street from his alma mater. After “retiring” in 2004, he has continued pastoring on an interim basis at a number of congregations in the Toledo area; he preached and conducted his last service on August 30 at First St. Mark’s in Oregon. Last year, his home congregation, Olivet Lutheran Church, celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination. Glen was a man of many passions and enthusiasms, not the least of which was food. He loved a church pot luck and was known to lay claim to the drum sticks of a roast bird. He took great joy from music and had an eclectic taste, leaning strongly toward jazz. He loved cars, especially his 1950 Studebaker Starlight Coupe. Sports were a fascination, especially golf and the Buckeyes and a well-turned double play, and he was thrilled to throw out the first pitch at a Mudhens game. He read broadly, liked to share his favorites from the comics page, and was always ready to enjoy any product of human ingenuity and creativity--he sought out ideas and experiences that would make him say, “that’s cool!,” and was eager to share those moments. But his primary passion was people, especially his parishioners. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his ordination, he wrote, “I have treasured the ways folks have welcomed me into their lives, often in moments of vulnerability, sorrow or confusion.” He also participated in many church and secular organizations, especially those that promoted social justice. Among numerous others over the course of his career: in the mid-1990s, Pastor Stadler began organizing candlelight vigils to remember homicide victims in Toledo, a practice he had learned of from a group of nuns; after having presided at the funeral of a young parishioner who died of an accidental pistol discharge, he assisted with the organization of a program called A.N.D.R.E.W. to educate children about the dangers of guns; he was also one of the organizers of the Parent Community Partnership; and he was active for several years with Cherish All Children, an organization dedicated to preventing child sexual exploitation. Glen was predeceased by his father and his sister Barbara. As his life reached its end, the love and compassion that he poured out into the world flowed back to his family. He is survived by his mother, his wife and sons and their wives and children, and a large extended family, all of whom deeply appreciate the kindness and support that have been offered during his illness. Visitation will be Sunday October 25 from 2-5pm and 6-8pm at Ansberg-West Funeral Home and services will be Monday October 26 at 10:30am at Olivet Lutheran Church on Monroe Street, with entombment to follow at Toledo Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation in Glen’s memory to ELCA World Hunger, Cherry Street Mission Ministries, or Olivet Lutheran Church.

Glen D. Stadler

June 9, 1939 - October 22, 2015