Obituary: Glenn Harry Sitte

July 12, 1926 – Jan. 6, 2024

Glenn Harry Sitte, age 97 of Sister Bay, entered into the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Jan. 6, 2024 peacefully, with family, at home in Lakeland Florida.

Glenn was born July 12, 1926 to Harry and Pearl Sitte in Ellison Bay. Glenn was one of seven children. As a young boy he helped his parents around the family farm. He attended Newport School in Gills Rock and Gibraltar High School in Fish Creek. Before graduating, Glenn volunteered to join the military as a Merchant Marine during World War II. Upon returning from the war, he married his lovely bride, Corrine Evensen in 1947. They were blessed with two sons, Murray and Todd.

Early in Glenn’s career, he worked as a machinist in Milwaukee. When he moved back to Door County he worked as a commercial fisherman, and was a farmer in Sister Bay. He became a skilled carpenter and assisted with many building projects in the community, including the First Baptist Church of Sister Bay. Later, he was employed by Gibraltar High School, in the maintenance department, until he retired.

Glenn semi-retired at age 59 and he and Corrine started traveling. Glenn especially loved the quality time they had visiting family and friends across the country along their routes. They migrated south during the colder months, finding fulfillment in volunteering with the Sowers RV Ministry. During the summers they returned to Sister Bay and camped at Aqualand Campground. Here, the lovebirds gathered with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren around the campfires, took the little ones fishing, enjoyed their walks, and had many laughs while playing games. During the summer months, Glenn and Corinne both enjoyed working with their life long family friends, Al and Ingert, at Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant.

After Corinne was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s Disease (known as ALS), Glenn became her faithful, loving caretaker until she passed away in 2002. They were blessed with 55 years of marriage.

As Glenn would say, “The Lord blessed me with not one, but two wonderful wives”.

On Dec. 6, 2003, the lovely socialite Gloria Berg agreed to become his darling wife. They enjoyed traveling to sunny Florida for the winter, where they shared family time with Todd and Carla, their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They would return to Sister Bay in the summers to enjoy picnics, campfires, dinners and celebratory events with their family and friends. Gloria’s children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were special to Glenn. Glenn and Gloria were able to spend 20 wonderful years together. Gloria also passed away only two days after Glenn, on Jan. 8, 2024.

During these years, Glenn continued to work at Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant. He often talked about retiring, however he always found projects and things that needed to be done at the restaurant or for the Johnson’s family, whom he loved as his own. Glenn was a jack of all trades. You could find him almost anywhere around Al’s from cutting grass on the John Deere tractor to watering the lovely flowers, to caring for the goats. He might have been mowing the famous rooftop grass at Al Johnsons, hauling things away in the old red pickup truck, checking on the workers, or stopping by the kitchen for a hot cup of coffee or sampling of a piece of pie. “They make the best coconut crème pie” per Glenn! He loved the folks at Al’s and truly enjoyed going to work everyday. “Al Johnson’s Oldest Goat” finally retired, after nearly 40 years, in October of 2023 at age 97, just two months before he passed away.

Among the many who mourn Glenn’s passing are his sister Alice; his children Murray (Kathy) Sitte and Todd (Carla) Sitte, eight grandchildren and their families, including eight great grandchildren; stepchildren Vickie Gonzalez, Julie (Tim) Nyberg, Sherrie (Gary) Willems and Jim (Kelly) Berg.

Glenn was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Corrine; his parents Harry and Pearl; his brother Donald; and his sisters Elaine, Laverne, Dawn and Karen.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Feb. 3, at 11 am at First Baptist Church of Sister Bay, 2622 Bay Shore Drive, Sister Bay. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Glenn’s name to Samaritan’s Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 or you may donate through their website samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/donate.