Obituary of Henry J. Glowacki

On March 18, 2011, Henry J. Glowacki of Osage Beach, Missouri passed peacefully from this life. He led a life well-lived for 87 years. He was born in E. St. Louis, Illinois to Sophie and Joseph Glowacki. He was the younger of two children. His sister, Josephine Remke, preceded him in death as did her husband, Robert and their son, Mark (Jo Ann). Henry served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant. After the war he worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company as a lineman and eventually became a repair supervisor. In 1947 he married the love of his life, Lillian Swoboda. They were happily married until her death in 2009. In 1971 Henry was elected to the position of alderman for Fairview Heights, Illinois. He also served for many years as a member and an officer of the Fairview Heights Optimist Club and as Lieutenant Governor for the Illinois Optimist Club. He was also a member of the Belleville, Illinois Elks Club and the Polish National Alliance. In 1984 he retired from Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. He and Lillian spent time visiting their daughters and their husbands, enjoying their grandchildren, and traveling. Later they moved to Osage Beach, Missouri, where Henry enjoyed boating, fishing, golfing, and entertaining friends and family. Henry�s daughters, Catherine Grieve of Brighton, Michigan, and Christine (Charles) Wasem of Smithton, Illinois, have not only lost their father but also their confidant and source of unconditional love and acceptance. That love extended to their children, Ashley Grieve (Michael) Battle, Benjamin Grieve, Kate Wasem, and David Wasem and to his great step-grandson Spencer Battle and great granddaughter Lillian Battle. His sister-in-law, Helen Buitkus, niece Mary Butkus, and nephews William (Judy) Warzala, Paul (Pat) Kalicki, Gerry Kalicki, and Tony Buitkus will miss him as well his dearest life-long friends, Betty and Ben Ziaja.