Richard “Dick” Glessing age 77 of Howard Lake passed away at the Allina Buffalo Hospital on December 1, 2021. A service will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, February 10, 2022 with visitation 1 hour prior at St James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake, MN.
Richard was born on June 18, 1944 (actually falling on father’s day that year) to Warren and Edna (Melinsky) Glessing. He was born at home where his parents and Grandpa Gustave resided and lived for a number of years, until they moved to the house right next door. Richard was a lifelong resident of Howard Lake.
He was baptized and confirmed in his faith at St James Lutheran Church, and attended St James Lutheran School through the eighth grade. He graduated from Howard Lake Waverly High School with the graduating class of 1962. Richard enjoyed playing sports in high school, but his passion was the great outdoors. He enjoyed trapping, hunting and fishing and had many family and friends that he enjoyed the sport with. If asked, Richard would say bow hunting was his sport of choice.
Richard believed strongly in serving his country and enlisted in the Air Force. He did his overseas tour in Bangkok, Thailand keeping the military runways lighted and operational for cargo planes to land and load. Richard’s last duty station was in Topeka Kansas where he met his wife of 55 years, Astrid (Hume) Glessing. They were married November 4, 1966 in Topeka, KS and moved the very next day to Howard Lake, where they made their home. They were blessed with a daughter, Rita in 1972.
Richard was an electrician for many years and a member of IBEW Local Union 292. He retired from Bloomington Electric in 2007. Richard truly enjoyed being an electrician and was very thankful to be employed for so many years. He always said he liked the accomplishment of completing a project and the variety of moving on to the next.
Richard enjoyed helping people and was always willing to lend a hand. He always believed in giving back. He believed strongly in blood donation and would give often. He was also a Minnesota Firearm Safety instructor for 30 years.
Richard was preceded in death by infant son Ryan Richard, his parents Warren and Edna (Melinksy) Glessing and many other family and friends.
Richard is survived by his wife Astrid, daughter Rita and son in law Jason Strickland, sister and brother in law Jeannie and Ralph Krohn, sister in law Renata Herberger, 1 nephew and 4 nieces, along with a host of extended family and friends.
Richard was a man of steadfast faith in God. He looked forward to the glorious day he would go to heaven. He is rejoicing with his Lord and Savior now.
Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Howard Lake, Minnesota 320-543-3401, www.swansonpeterson.com