Michael L. Glassner

On Wednesday, August 3, 2022 our brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, and friend, Michael L. Glassner, 75, passed away peacefully at Silver Cross Nursing Center, Rock Island.

Private inurnment services for Mr. Glassner will be held at the Rock Island National Cemetery. A Celebration of Life gathering honoring Michael will be 3 pm, Wednesday, August 10 at Steve’s Old Time Tap, Rock Island. Memorials may be made to Skills Incorporated. Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, Rock Island is assisting the family.

Michael Lee Glassner was born in Chicago on April 4, 1947, a son of Fred and Barbara (Franklin) Glassner. Fred and Barb moved shortly afterward to Rock Island to raise their expanding family.

When Mike was six months old, he developed a high fever and convulsions and incurred brain damage from encephalitis.

Dr. Donald Davis of Augustana College worked with Mike as a child in order for Mike to achieve his greatest potential. Speech therapy was a huge part of this regime. Mike was able to attend Horace Mann Elementary School in their new special needs department.

Mike’s siblings Ron, Debbie and Marcia knew he was special and needed the help from the community to accomplish all he could in his life. We cannot express enough our thanks to our community who helped Mike on his journey, but also became great friends to him. He was able to get his driver’s license by taking the test orally as he could not read. He held many jobs successfully. Working at Jewel Supermarket, Ericksen Chevrolet, as well as a custodian at corporate offices and schools.

Cars were always special to him and he relentlessly asked everyone about their cars.

Mike brought great joy to his family and friends with his innocence. Mike questioned how our mother could fit in such a small urn after her cremation and whether she wore her glasses to see her cremation, a child’s perspective for life.

At times, his stubbornness was overwhelming to our parents, but that headstrong attitude kept him alive for 75 years against all odds.

Thank you, God, for giving us Mike. He enriched our lives beyond our imaginations. He was our gem. His birthstone is diamond for a reason. Keep sparkling in Heaven’s sky. Love you sweet man.

Survivors include his siblings, Ron (Joyce) Glassner, Moline, Deborah Jennings, Kirkland, Washington, Marcia (John) Carver, Rock Island; several nieces and nephews, cousin and friends.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents; and a nephew, Jared Carver.

The family would like to thank Friendship Manor for their excellent care of Mike over the past several years.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Michael L. Glassner, please visit our floral store.