Glenn Roger Walter
It was a snow-covered day November 11, 1951, and Glenn Roger Walters was “born to be wild, like a true nature’s child.” He was born at home, in the big white Ennes house in downtown Tower. Glenn brought “joy to the world,” to his parents, Etta (Ennes) Walters and Floyd “Butch” Walters, and to the many families and friends who shared his full and adventurous life. Growing up as one of the Tower boys (“Buddy, you’re a boy, make a big noise, playing in the street, gonna be a big man someday”), he enjoyed sledding down Whitman Hill, swimming in Tower Pond, and roaming Grosse’s Woods and Crowe’s Field with his buddies, Harry Lee, Charlie, Bobby Jo, Larry, Danny and Donnie. He learned to hunt, fish, and trap with his grandpa, Max Ennes. Those youthful memories and skills were always fondly recalled and passed down to the next generation, especially to his cherished grandson, Ian.
As a red-blooded Onaway teen, Glennie loved fast cars, motorcycles, “hot fun in the summertime,” and especially sweet, sassy Peggy “Peg” Blohm. Their love story started with “crystal blue persuasion” and they were married in the fall of ’69 on October 11. “Oh, what a night!”
Nineteen-Sixty-Nine was a big year for Glenn, though he didn’t realize quite how big…but more about that later. He graduated from high school, got married, and started his lifelong job at the UAW Black Lake Education Center. The following spring of 1970, Glenn and Peggy welcomed Katrina, his dually sassy daughter. “You make the rocking world go round!”
A truly great dad he was. As they grew, Tinker and her soul sister, Lizzie, kept him young and on his toes! Always the protective father, he made sure the girls were keeping it straight. (“I wear my sunglasses at night, so I can” …hide!) He went as far as watching the high school football games with binoculars…and oh, by the way, Glenn never really liked football. He was just making sure the girls were where they said were going to be. (Good thing we showed up for that game!) Oh, Dad, you know, “Girls just want to have fun!”
Glenn enjoyed so many of the simple things in life, besides hunting and fishing. The yearly Christmas tree trek with Olivia, and then later with Ian and Aiden. Flying his little Cessna 172 with the brave few that would go up with him (no license required back then!) was a thrill. He enjoyed science, history, work and travel. To invest in their future, Glenn and Peg opened the Subway Sandwiches and Salads in Cheboygan in 1991. And any downtime they had, they’d head out on a road-trip adventure: Montreal, Guadalajara, most of the continental United States, and a lot of Alaska as well “Oh baby, baby it’s a wild world, I’ll always remember you like a child…girl.” They went camping every summer in Canada and spent retirement winters “doing the crocodile rock” in Florida. But almost as much as his family…” Stop right there before you go any further, do you love” …Meat? Glenn loved to buy meat, can meat, eat meat, cook meat, and shoot meat!!! (And yes, that ONE elk was definitely legal!)
The technology that fascinated Glenn would eventually bring him a beautiful surprise. Remember back in the summer of ’69? What a big year that was for Glenn, whether he knew it or not? Well, Deborah Jill was born that July, and through the modern miracle of genetic testing, he finally met his “new” daughter in 2015. Deborah, her husband, Steve, and their three children brought more joy and fun as they were welcomed into the family. The past seven years were too short, but so meaningful. (“I used to think maybe you loved me…now baby, I’m sure.”)
In his later years, Glennie could still be found hanging out with the Tower boys: though some have gone, or changed through the years, they stayed thick as thieves. He loved spending time with his grandkids or searching for awesome places to eat with Peggy on hot summer nights, usually only to end up at Manzana’s. He was just finishing up his cabin on the lake, and taking advantage of the new Michigan laws to further perfect his “farming” skills (“One toke over the line, sweet Jesus…”)
By now, you’ve probably realized that music was always on Glenn’s radio…and loudly! Fogerty, Queen, Three Dog Night…you name it. He would never profess to be a religious man, but he did love a good hymn. (“I once was lost, but now I’m found.”)
Glenn Rogers Walters’ time with us, lived so richly, ended on December 12, 2022, in a single auto accident on South Black River Road, Waverly Township, Onaway. He probably had the radio on.
A party celebrating Glenn’s life will take place in Tower upon Ian’s return from his deployment in Syria later this summer. There will be music, maybe some beer…and definitely meat! Those of you who would like to help clean out the barn, the garage, the shed, the attic, and the storage units are welcome to stay after! Ha!
“We would like to thank the Forest-Waverly Fire Department and ask that any donations
Surviving Glenn is his wife, Peggy Walters; daughters, Katrina (Rick) McDonald and Deborah (Steve) MacDonald; grandchildren, Olivia, Ian, Lacy, Gabby, Emma and Nick; a great-grandson, Aiden; an honorary daughter, Liz (Scot) Szymoniak and daughters, Lexi and Brooke; his mother, Etta Walters; sisters, Sandy (Mike) Rose, Mary (Mike) Morell, Cheryl Walters, Kimberlee (Scott) Thompson and Deana Martinchek; and his brother, Dustin Johnson (Thayna); as well as many nieces and nephews across the country.
Glenn was preceded in death by his father, Floyd “Butch” Walters; a sister, Linda Walters; and mother and father-in-law, Martha and Wesley Blohm.