Born May 21st, 1935, Howard Lewis Glewwe was the youngest of three boys born to Frank Charles Glewwe and Frances Esther (Platt) Glewwe. He and his brothers, Carl and Richard, were raised attending Riverside Baptist Church and working on the family vegetable farm in South St. Paul, Minnesota, just a few blocks from their grandparents and great-grandmother.
Howard earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Minnesota, leading to a career in electronics. He completed infantry boot camp in preparation for service in Vietnam but was deferred due to his engineering degree. His career first took him to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he met his wife of more than 50 years, Lea (Blood) Glewwe, during a Young Singles Church ski trip to Wisconsin. They were married on October 17th, 1964.
In 1969, Howard’s career brought the young family — with young sons Gregory Scott and Grant Stephen — to Dallas, Texas to work for Texas Instruments. Howard and Lea settled into suburban life in Richardson, Texas, where he worked at various Texas Instruments sites around the Dallas area and earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Texas at Dallas. In addition to his engineering career, Howard pursued his true lifelong passion, music.
Howard studied piano for 12 years and organ for 18 years, from childhood through college. In Iowa, he directed several church choirs, served as a music director, and even conducted orchestras for musicals and one symphony. In Dallas, he became the organist at King of Glory Lutheran Church. After 21 years at Texas Instruments, he retired early, continuing his service as an organist and later as a music director and organist for another Lutheran congregation. He also taught as a substitute teacher in math and band classes.
In 2006, Howard and Lea moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to be near their second set of grandchildren, becoming active members of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Brentwood. After Lea’s passing in 2016, Howard moved in with his son Grant and Grant’s family — Sandra, Megan, and Michael — in Brentwood, Tennessee. He remained there until his passing. Despite battling lymphoma for nearly 4 years, Howard stayed active in his church choir and Bible study groups until his final months.
Howard was a gentle man of patience and even temperament who loved his family and friends deeply. He took great pride in his wife, his sons and their spouses, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. He read avidly and his passion for music was evident in daily life.
Howard is preceded in death by his beloved wife of more than 50 years, Lea, their younger son Grant, and brothers Carl and Richard.
He is survived by his eldest son Greg, daughters-in-law Diane and Sandra, grandchildren Ceri, Gareth, Caitlyn, Megan, and Michael, and great-grandchildren Breydin and Audrey Rose.
Howard’s extended family and church community were instrumental in supporting his care and extending his life during his final years. The Glewwe family is very grateful for all that love and care.
A Memorial Service and interment of ashes is planned for 10:30 am on June 14th at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, Brentwood, Tennessee. https://www.cremcoservices.com
In lieu of flowers, Howard wished donations to benefit the Music Therapy Program at the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center. A link for donations will be provided soon.
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