Kevin Glawe

Kevin “Smilie” Gene Glawe was born on March 1, 1952, in Detroit Lakes, MN. He passed away on April 23, 2021, from a rare high-grade lymphoma (blood cancer). Hospice of the Red River Valley at the Perham Living Transitions unit provided excellent care and support during his final days.

Kevin was the son of Dale William Glawe and Vernice Mae (Dullum) Glawe. He was baptized on April 13, 1952, and confirmed on April 3, 1966, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Vergas, MN. Smilie grew up on a small family farm outside of Vergas. He attended country school in District #166 in Hobart Township from first through fifth grades, where he met three of his lifelong friends: Duane Antonsen, JoAnn Bruhn, and Diane (Schultz) Menz. He graduated from Perham High School in 1970.  He was the wrestling manager in 1967 then wrestled in the 165-weight class his senior year and played football and baseball in school.

After graduating from high school, he attended Dakota Business College where he earned a degree in accounting and junior executive training. Smilie spent his career in the automotive industry. He first worked for Tom Muscatell at Muscatell Chevrolet, then at Overvold Motors and Corwin Auto before becoming service manager for Ward Muscatell Subaru in 1997. He retired in 2010 for health reasons.

On August 3, 1974, Kevin married his best friend, Cheryl Kay Greenwood. They were married for 23 wonderful years. They enjoyed numerous trips throughout the United States and various countries around the world. They purchased property and built a cabin on Long Lake where they lived out their dream of enjoying lake life near where they both grew up. Cheryl passed away unexpectedly on September 16, 1997.

Smilie was an avid hunter and fisherman. Some of his fondest memories were deer hunting with his brothers and nephews Brett and Kraig. He also enjoyed various deer and elk hunting trips to Montana and pheasant hunting trips to North Dakota. Smilie and Cheryl helped start the annual Fins and Lovers fishing tournament in 1987. He was a charter member of the Vergas Jaycees.

In 2018, Smilie underwent a lifechanging heart procedure at Abbot Northwestern Hospital. His doctors implanted a heart monitor the size of a grain of rice. It gave him a whole new lease on life. He started to take daily walks along the road by his lake home. During his many walks, he began collecting monarch caterpillars. He would bring them back to his cabin where he would raise them until they were full grown monarch butterflies, which he would release. At one point, he was caring for 70 caterpillars. He shared his knowledge of monarchs during Leaf Days at Maplewood State Park, and he loved teaching many children and adults in the area about their life cycles. Smilie shared this passion with family and friends in hopes that we, too, will continue his tradition.  Many of his youngest nieces and nephews are on the hunt for milkweed when they head out on walks!

He was preceded in death by his wife, Cheryl; parents Dale and Vernice Glawe; brothers Jon, Brian, and Glen; sister Rebecca (Weisgerber); and his grandparents, Martin and Mari Dullum and Walter and Margaret Glawe.

Smilie is survived by his sister, Nancy Glawe; four brothers-in-law; six sisters-in-law; 15 nephews; 10 nieces; 28 great nephews; eight great nieces; and five great-great nieces.  He also treasured many friends, among those include Verla Day; Vergas friends; hunting friends in Minnesota, Montana and North Dakota; and Ward Muscatell Subaru friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider making a donation to the Minnesota Division of the American Heart Association (300 S. Riverside Plaza |Suite 1200 | Chicago, IL 60606) or to Hospice of the Red River Valley (1701 38th St. S | Suite 101 | Fargo, ND 58103).

Memorial Service will be 10AM, Saturday, May 1, 2021 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Frazee, MN. Visitation will be Friday, April 30 from 4-8:00PM at VERGAS Event Center. Burial will be at a later date.

Furey Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.  www.FureyFH.com

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