Helen C. Glissendorf

Miss Glissendorf; age 97, passed away peacefully Saturday June 5th, 2010. She was born May 27, 1913 in Fond du Lac, WI to Otto W. Glissendorf and Gertrude Dryer Glissendorf. Her parents and her sister Marilyn "Pat" Rogge preceded her in death.Helen graduated from L P Goodrich High School in Fond du Lac in1930. After attending Marquette University for two years, she graduated from Oshkosh State Teachers College, (now UW-Oshkosh) in 1934 with a Bachelors Degree in Education. Miss Glissendorf was a life-long student, always seeking to expand her horizons and earned a Masters Degree in Education from UW-Madison in 1960. Helen taught in the Fond du Lac School System from 1934 until her retirement in 1978. Miss Glissendorf was a special individual to so many people. She had a tremendous rapport with her family, students, colleagues, and friends. She was strong, but always caring, compassionate, considerate, and respectful. A gentle, loving, and generous nature was one of her special gifts. The Glissendorf family was among the charter members of the Church of Our Saviour in Fond du Lac in 1926. Helen was deeply spiritual and her dedication to the church was a life-long commitment, serving on various committees, as a lay assistant, and as a Sunday school teacher. Helen maintained an active role in many organizations. She was a member of the Eastern Star since 1952. She was a charter member of the Fond du Lac League of Women Voters as well as Epsilon Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, 1951. She was a member of the Fond du Lac Heritage Club as well as W.E.A., N.E.A, A.F.T., N.R.T.A., W.R.T.A., F.A.R.E.A. serving on many committees, as a local Past President, and Executive Board member for some. Helen was a gifted pianist, and accompanied many throughout the years. Music was one of her joys. Other interests included quilting, Haiku poetry, world travel, Fond du Lac history, and the Glissendorf family genealogy. As an avid reader, she frequented and actively supported the public library. Miss Glissendorf's interests encompassed the affairs of the global village, as was demonstrated by the scope and level of her commitment and service to others. As a passionate student of life, Helen has engendered many life long friendships around the world. In 1946, she spent two years in Nagoya, Japan as a civilian clerk in the Fifth Air Force, as part of the post-war occupation. She made many Japanese friends, and is godparent to several Japanese children. She has diligently maintained those friendships. In high school she began a pen-pal friendship with a girl her own age in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. In the 50's, she befriended some dozen Japanese businessmen who came to Fond du Lac to learn about machine tools produced at Giddings and Lewis. While working on her Masters Degree, she attended a course in Hawaii on East-West Studies. She studied with well-educated Asian women and forged many new friendships. Her activities in ELCA Missions brought her friends from Bangalore, India, Aboisso, Ivory Coast. She continued to remain close with a family from Nairobi, Kenya. From that time to this, her correspondence labels read like a world atlas. Many of those friends, their now-grown children and some of their grandchildren have continued that correspondence and some have even visited Helen in Fond du Lac. Her passing will leave many hearts saddened.It has been said, "She has achieved success who has lived will, laughed often and loved much; who has enjoyed the trust and respect of others and the love of little children; who has filled her niche and accomplished her task; who has left the world better than she found it; who has always looked for the best in others and given the best she had."Her nieces, Barbara Rogge (Tony) Mahler of Auburndale, WI and Jean (Jack) Davis of Waterford, WI, and a great nephew Robert (Julie) Westphal of Wauwatosa, WI survive her.



A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on August 7th, 2010 at the Church of Our Saviour Lutheran, Fond du Lac. There will be a reception following the service from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Room of the church. Following cremation, private interment will be at Rienzi Cemetery. For those so inclined, memorial remembrances to the Church of Our Saviour, Fond du Lac, would have pleased her. Uecker-Witt Funeral Home, Fond du Lac, is handling arrangements.