Glenn St. Mary, age 86, of Caledonia, passed away on August 18, 2023, at Claddagh Senior Living Center, Caledonia.
Glenn was born to Harold and Ragnhild (Peterson) St. Mary on October 1, 1936, in Caledonia, Minn. He graduated from Loretto High School in 1954, and was united in marriage to Lolita (Olson) on July 30, 1955, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church grotto, Caledonia.
Glenn was a US Army and Army Reserve veteran. He owned and operated St. Mary’s Auto Body Shop in Caledonia until 1972, when he and his family moved to Grinnell, Iowa, where Glenn worked for Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company in fire inspections and investigations. In 1983, he joined Manatt’s, Inc., Brooklyn, Iowa, as their safety director. Glenn and his wife relocated to Lake Saint Louis, Mo., in 1993, where Glenn was a realtor until their retirement back to Caledonia in 1998.
Glenn was a member of the Caledonia Fire Dept. for 14 years; serving as assistant chief and fire chief for five years. Glenn earned his private pilot’s license in 1965 and helped establish The Red Baron Flyers in Caledonia. Glenn loved attending race car competitions with friends and family and was passionate about fishing on the Mississippi or one of Minnesota’s lakes. Over the years, he was active in gun training, Boy Scouts, and other community organizations.
Glenn was preceded in death by his parents, wife Lolita, sister Yvonne Murphy and in-laws John Almo, Reginald and Elaine Olson, David Olson, Frances Jean Olson, Maxine and Lorren Tingesdal, Juanita and Neut Michelsen, and Chuck Pluhar.
He will be dearly missed by his family: children Jacqueline (Harvey) Schweitzer, Michael (Jo) St. Mary, Laura St. Mary, Joan (Tom) Grawe, and Lisa (Ted) Glickley; grandchildren Ben, Adam, Joseph, Callie, Anneliese, and Mathias; great-grandchild Maleah, sister Audrey Almo, brothers Lyle (Linda Covey) St. Mary, Duane (Judy) St. Mary, Allan St. Mary, and Bryan (Lori) St. Mary; in-laws Cheryl Pluhar, Charles (Janet) Olson and Marion Olson; aunt Darlene Peterson, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Rite of Christian burial is at 11 a.m., Saturday, August 26, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Caledonia. Visitation will be Friday from 4-6 p.m., with a rosary at 3:30 p.m., in Holy Family Hall, St. Mary’s Church, Caledonia. Visitation will also be from 10-11 a.m. Saturday before the service at the church. Burial with military honors will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Caledonia.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Calvary Cemetery, Caledonia, Minn., Caledonia Fire Department, and The Red Baron Flyers, Caledonia.
The family would like to thank St. Croix Hospice, Claddagh Assisted Living, St. Mary’s Church staff, Fr. Andrew Vogel, Sr. Michaeline and home healthcare aides Katie, Laurie Ann, and Carla.
McCormick Funeral Home, Caledonia, assisted the family and online condolences may be given at mccormickfuneralhome.net.