Roland Edward Glanz

Roland (Ron) Edward Glanz, husband, dad, grandpa, great-grandpa, brother, uncle and great-uncle, carpenter, golfer, World War II Veteran and POW, died on Wednesday, November 6, at 11:50pm. He was at home with his family around him. We are not ready for him to be gone, but we are grateful for the time he was with us all.

Roland was born on June 12, 1922, to the late Leo and Gertrude (Kuhlman) Glanz, in rural Columbus Grove, Ohio. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Ottawa, Ohio. He also attended grade school at St. Peter & Paul.

Roland graduated from McClure High School in 1941. He entered the U.S. Army during World War II on February 12, 1943. He served with the 409th B Company Infantry – 103rd Division in France and Germany. He was captured by the Germans on December 2, 1944 at Selestat, France, and was a Prisoner of War in Germany, Stalag 4B, until he was liberated on April 4, 1945, by General Patton’s Third Army. Roland received an Honorable Discharge from the U.S. Army in December 1945.

On February 1, 1948, Roland married Eleonore Elling at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Napoleon, Ohio. She survives.

For a number of years, Roland was a Foreman at General Mills in Toledo, Ohio. In 1964 he established Glanz Homes Inc. Roland and his men built many homes in Ohio, Michigan and Hawai’i, where the family lived for 9 years. He was a ‘task-master’ when it came to his construction work – no shoddy workmanship. However, he never asked his men to do something he himself would not do.

After retiring in 1988, Roland enjoyed woodworking, building furniture for his children and grandchildren.

In recent years Roland and Eleonore enjoyed traveling and spending winters in Florida.

Surviving are sons and daughters Gary (Diane), Redmond, WA; Ava (Chuck) Stanford, Scottsdale, AZ; Kevin, Napoleon, OH; Maria (Kenny) Judd, Vashon Island, WA; Julia, Graton, CA; Alan, East Lansing, MI. Son Keith died in 1998 at age 43. Also surviving are grandchildren Melissa (Quintin) Doroquez; Brian (Mohini) Glanz; Erica (Erik) Kachmarsky; Thomas Glanz; Kristen (Alex) Starkovich; Julie (Scott) Sanders; William DeGroot; and Finn Judd. Great grandchildren are Michael Rance, Avery and Grace Kachmarsky, and Brody Sanders. Also surviving is sister June (Bob) Billmaier, Findlay, OH. Roland was preceded in death by his parents and brother Marvin.

Roland was a life member of the Napoleon American Legion, and a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church, Napoleon, Ohio. At St. Augustine, he was married, and buried – and he enjoyed a long, rich journey in between.

Roland’s viewing will be on Sunday, November 10, 2pm to 4pm and 6pm to 8pm at Walker Mortuary, Napoleon. His celebration of life mass will be on Veteran’s Day, Monday, November 11, at 10:30am at St. Augustine Catholic Church, officiated by Father Dan Borgelt. In lieu of flowers, Roland requested memorials be made to St. Augustine Church and the Henry County Transportation Network.