Glen Thompson

THOMPSON, Glen Sterling, age 75 died peacefully on December 29, 2020 at Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, MN. Glen was born November 28, 1945, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, “exactly 25 years after the founding of the Grand Ole Opry,” his greatest passion aside from his family.

Glen attended St. Mark’s School and graduated from St. Joseph High School, Kenosha, in 1964. He went on to study at St. Francis de Sales Preparatory Seminary in Milwaukee and The Saint Paul Seminary, St. Paul, MN. He returned to his hometown in 1972 and worked for the City of Kenosha for 28 years, serving as Superintendent of the Waste Department for 20 years, starting in 1981.

Glen was a guitarist and singer-songwriter, specializing in old country music, “the whinier and sadder, the better.” His willingness to share his love for the Opry and for country music was renowned by all who met Glen. He started traveling to Nashville as a youngster with his parents, and performed on the “Junior Grand Ole Opry” TV program in 1955, at the age of 9, along with several other radio and television programs.  He continued to attend the Opry several times a year for decades. In 1987, he became the President of the newly-formed Grand Ole Opry Fan Club, and continued in this role for 23 years. He purchased his front row Opry tickets three years in advance for as long as he could, and in 1980, secured tickets for the 100th Anniversary Celebration in2025. Glen hosted a monthly gathering known as “Country 101” in his home for 13 years to honor country stars, their music, and their history.

Glen also loved baseball, history, old movies, playing cards, and Ken Burns documentary series. He was a lifelong Packers and Brewers fan. Thanksgiving was his absolute favorite holiday, especially when it fell on his birthday. He had a gregarious laugh, loved a cold beer and a good meal with friends, and never met a chocolate malt he didn’t like.

In 2001, he retired to Gallatin and in 2017, moved to the Twin Cities, Minnesota to be close to his children and grandchildren.

His impact as a father, grandfather, and friend won’t ever be forgotten. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sterling and Eleanor (Kerkman) Thompson. Left to cherish Glen’s memory are his wife of 46 years, Louise (Simmons) Thompson, son Jerel Thompson and daughter-in-law Kate Smith-Thompson; daughter Clare Thompson and son-in-law Craig Behrendt; grandchildren Anna and Jaina Thompson, and “grand-pups” Twinkie Thompson, Gustavis Glen Thompson, and Clark Joseph Behrendt; cousins Sandy Miller, Bev (Ed) Van Tine, and Linda (Tom) Mickiewicz, and hundreds of friends across the country.

A private service was held January 8 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Minnetonka, MN, and a larger celebration of life will be held in Summer 2021 in Nashville. Glen will be buried next to the first performer on the Grand Ole Opry, “Uncle Jimmy” Thompson, at LaGuardo Cemetery in Wilson County, Tennessee.

Special thanks to the Hospice care team at Park Nicollet Methodist, especially the music therapy team, for their outstanding work and talent. In appreciation of Glen’s life, memorials can be made online in his memory to the Park Nicollet Foundation Hospice Excellence Fund, designated to the Hospice Music Therapy program, or to the American Music Therapy Association.