Robert "Bob" Oscar Glaesman

The funeral service will be live streamed at:  https://www.youtube.com/live/yRdUFLSkQhY?si=T2d2SwckkqWi8G3G

Robert Glaesman, 82, of Willmar, died on April 7 at Bethesda Grand following a courageous fight against Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM).

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 14, at Vinje Lutheran Church. Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3-5 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home and will continue for one hour prior to the service. Memorials to honor Bob's life may be directed to either Johns Hopkins Myositis Center, Mason F. Lord Building, Center Tower, Suite 358, 5200 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21224, Sibley State Park, Cardinal Pride or Vinje Lutheran Church. Arrangements are entrusted to Peterson Brothers Funeral Home. www.petersonbrothers.com

Bob was born on February 8, 1943, in Hibbing, Minnesota, the son of Minnie and Arthur Glaesman. In 1951 his family moved to St. Paul where Bob graduated from St. Paul Central High School in 1961, earning nine varsity letters. He received All-City Conference honors in football and hockey and served as a team captain for both sports. He was inducted into the St. Paul Central Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.

Bob continued his athletic career at Bemidji State College where he lettered four times in football and three in hockey. He was co-captain in both sports and president of the Letterman’s ‘B’ Club. Bob graduated with B.S. and Master’s Degrees in Health and Physical Education and was inducted into Bemidji State University’s Athletic Hall of Fame for both hockey and football in 1996.

In 1964 Bob married Joan (Joni) Pierce in Crookston, MN. They moved to Brodhead, Wisconsin where Bob began teaching elementary physical education and was a varsity assistant coach in football, wrestling and track. In 1969 he became an elementary physical education supervisor in Janesville, Wisconsin, where he started the high school hockey program at Janesville Parker High School. Bob and Joni’s son, Matthew, was born in Janesville in 1970.

The family moved to Willmar in 1972 where Bob once again taught elementary education and started another new hockey program, in addition to being an assistant varsity football coach. From 1985 to 2000, he was the High School Athletic Director in Willmar. He retired in 2000 after 35 years in education and was inducted into the Willmar Cardinal Athletic Hall of Fame in 2021.

Bob loved the great outdoors and especially enjoyed hunting grouse. He looked forward to his yearly fishing trips to Lake Namekin with fishing buddies, went on several backpacking trips to the Little Big Horns in Wyoming with coaching friends and family members, and loved the time spent at the Pierce cabin on Lake Winnibigoshish over the years. He treasured the many trips he and Joni made in their conversion vans across the US and Canada, most especially a 10-week trip to Alaska in 2002. Bob had a wonderful sense of humor and loved animals and little children. He was a truly kind and humble man, who loved his Lord and his church. He was a great conversationalist who enjoyed people and enjoyed talking to any and everyone. His greatest joy in life was time spent with family, especially Matt (Shelly) and his two grandsons, Ryan and Ben.

Predeceasing Bob were his parents; sisters, Ardyth Muenchow (George), and Ruth Doughty.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Joni; sister, Karen Steele (Chuck); son, Matt (Shelly), grandsons, Ben and Ryan; and several nieces and nephews.

Rest in peace, beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, teacher and friend. You were dealt a tough hand to play, and you played it well. Special thanks to Dr. Bos of Centracare, the staff in Bethesda E, and to family and the many friends who saw us through to the end. May God bless each and every one of you.

We love you, Bob. We’ll miss you. See you on the other side!