Glenn De Kler

Glenn was born on July 18, 1935, to Dutch immigrants who made their way to Jersey City, NJ by way of Ellis Island. Although Glenn spent much of his adult life in Delaware, his home across the harbor from the Statue of Liberty was where his heart remained. At age 19, he married a spunky Puerto Rican girl, which was not a widely accepted choice at that time. Together they raised 3 sons and he was fiercely loyal to his family. Glenn often worked several jobs to provide his family with every opportunity possible.

In addition to being a member of the Coast Guard Reserves from 1953-1961, Glenn worked many years for DuPont and enjoyed working in the automotive parts department, at Sears, until he retired.

Glenn had a sharp tongue and a quick wit; a wit that caused a lot of eye rolls at family gatherings!!

Glenn had a great many loves in his life. He loved to laugh and cracking jokes with his boys was his favorite pastime. He LOVED his Yankees. His fondest memory was the day his father took him to see Joe DiMaggio play at Yankee Stadium.

He LOVED to drive and considered Consumer Reports to be the only place to get reliable information about cars. He read it religiously and loved to talk about what he learned and give advice.

He loved music. Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennet topped the list but he also really enjoyed Michael Buble. He filled the halls of Hilltop Retirement Lodge with his music and always had time to to talk about jazz with anyone who wanted to listen. He loved good food - he did NOT consider biscuits/gravy or BBQ meatballs "good food" and at Hilltop, he would tell anyone who would listen, just that! He loved his boys and he loved to be in their presence. He loved his 3 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. He loved his Catholic Faith. Glenn was raised a Presbyterian but drove his boys to Catholic mass each week, at their request. At the age of 82, he finally joined his family as a member of the Catholic Church. He said it just had to be. It was very important to him that his family could worship together. He was a proud Blujay grandparent and loved St. John's. He enjoyed being an honorary Kansan. He leaves behind a beautiful legacy of love and faith. Glenn left this life surrounded by his family and covered in love.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Cornelia De Kler, his wife of 64 years, Carmen Torres De Kler, his son Roy De Kler, and his infant son, Rory.

He is survived by his sister, Sue Baglino(Frank), his children Gary De Kler(Emma), and Randy De Kler(Felisa), 3 grandchildren, Samantha Hicks, Catherine DiNuzzo(Dave), and Glenn De Kler(Jessica) and 8 grandchildren: Isaac, Jeremy, Claire, and Joel Hicks and Lily, Emma, David, and Maria DiNuzzo.

Memorial services will be at 10 AM Monday, February 17 at the St. John's Catholic Church. A rosary service will be at 7 PM Sunday, February 16 at the Roberts Family Funeral Home, & the family will be available to visit with friends from 6 PM until the rosary service begins. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Great Grandchildren's Education Fund.