Glen Guentzel 1937-2009

This is a picture of my uncle Glen who passed away this Tuesday.  It was taken by a group of cook book authors from Sweden that were lost.  Glen helped them find their way and they thanked him by taking the picture and putting it in the book.  If you knew Glen, you would have said “Of course he helped them….”  The picture is a personal favorite of mine.

There were so many Sundays that our family would meet Glen and Peggy at my grandmother’s house in Coupland and catch up from the time we were apart.  Since he lived in Austin and we lived in Round Rock, he often would stop by Southside Market in Elgin and pick up sausage for lunch.  Rather than heat the house up by using the stove, he’d set the whole butcher paper wrap on the engine block of his car to keep them warm.  In later years (for the cemetery cleanings), he’d dutifully stop by Southside to provide us all with tasty Bar B Que.  He would bring the requisite saltines and hot sauce too.  At last night’s family visitation, I almost wanted to slip a bottle of hot sauce in with him.

My uncle was among the most pleasant, helpful persons I’ve ever known (next to my own father).  He had a delightful Texas drawl that exuded friendship and kindness.  At his funeral today, another one of his nephews gave the eulogy and told of the same types of experiences that I knew so well.  He always was there to greet you when you arrived, he always waved goodbye to you when you left.  It was a touch of Texas hospitality that I feel is fading away.

If I recall correctly, my name would be Christopher instead of Mike if it weren’t for Glen giving my parents gentle guidance on what to name a 10 pound 3 ounce newborn.

Glen, we’ll all miss you terribly – We love you.  But I know if we ever meet again, you will be there to welcome us…and you’ll know where we can go for Bar B Que.