Glenn R. Carlson

Glenn Robert Carlson of Superior, WI passed away on April 7, 2024, in his home with his loving wife, Jane, by his side after battling glioblastoma cancer.

Above all, Glenn was a devout bible believing Christian. He was born on July 31, 1956, to Ken and Lois Carlson. The second of four sons (Ken, Chris, Roy) in a military family meant a lot of moving before settling down in Chicago after his father retired from the Navy. He received his bachelor’s degree from Monmouth College, where he also played collegiate basketball. After graduating, he earned his master’s degree from Northwestern State University in Louisiana. Basketball would take him back to the Midwest where he met his wife, Jane, at their first teaching job at Rich South High School near Chicago.

They married in 1984 and Glenn’s coaching career took them to Superior, Wisconsin, where he coached the University of Wisconsin-Superior men’s basketball team from 1987-1994. During that time, his two sons, Peter, and Michael, were born. With a family, the man who had moved around his whole life decided it was time to plant his feet and stay in one place.

Glenn was a professor at UWS from 1987 until 2018. During his tenure, he was the chair of the Health and Human Performance Department for 12 years. Under his leadership, he focused on serving students, and he was able to help hundreds of graduates. He was well-known for teaching square and social dance classes that thousands of his students enjoyed over the years. After retiring, Glenn taught at the University of Minnesota Duluth from 2018 to 2022 in the Applied Human Science Department.

In addition to his university work, Glenn was passionate about sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He spent countless hours in prison ministry sharing his faith with those who were incarcerated. His deep faith also propelled him to take several missionary trips to Africa to spread the Word of God. Glenn also loved fishing and the outdoors and could often be found at various places along the North Shore with his dog.

He is survived by his wife, Jane, and his two sons, Peter, and Michael. Michael and his wife, Danae, blessed Glenn with a grandson, Raffael, in September of 2023. The two got to meet in February, and according to Glenn, they were best friends.

The service will be held Monday, April 22, 2024, at Duluth Bible Church, 201 W. St. Andrews Street, Duluth, MN. A visitation will be at 10:00 am, followed by an 11:00 am service, and a noon luncheon.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Duluth Bible Church in care of Michael Kandela by visiting the following link: In Memory of Glenn Carlson . The funds raised will help Michael’s evangelical efforts in Zambia, Africa.

The Lenroot-Maetzold Funeral Home, 1209 E. 5th Street, Superior, is assisting the family with arrangements. To leave a condolence or sign the guestbook, please visit www.lenroot-maetzold.com.