The Reverend Joseph Osten Glassner

The Reverend Joseph Osten Glassner, age 78, departed this earth on Monday morning, April 18, 2005, to meet his Heavenly Father. He will be missed not only by his immediate family, but by an extended church family fostered by his more than five decades of service to God and the people of the United Methodist Church. Born in Elm Grove, West Virginia, February 6, 1927, Joe was a son of the late William F. and Mary Jane Eaton Glassner. Following high school and three years of service in the United States Army from 1945 to 1948, Mr. Glassner entered Asbury College in Kentucky. He continued his education at Asbury Theological Seminary and was ordained into the United Methodist Ministry.He and his wife of fifty-five years, the former S. JoAnn Cochran were married May 28, 1949. Together they embarked on a ministry that began in 1963 at Butler Â? North Liberty Methodist Church at Butler, OH, then to East Springfield Methodist Church at East Springfield, Ohio in 1967. In 1970, he relocated to Uhrichsville First Methodist Church, at Uhrichsville until 1974 when he began serving Park United Methodist Church at Madison, Ohio. From 1978 to 1979, he lead the congregation at Ebenezer United Methodist Church at Tiffin, Ohio, and ultimately the Minerva United Methodist Church for thirteen years until his retirement in 1992. He continued to serve within the Cambridge District of the United Methodist Church as minister of visitation for Dover First United Methodist Church and the Broadway United Methodist Church at New Philadelphia. Rev. Glassner also served as minister at Winterset and Antrim United Methodist Churches in Guernsey County. For the past eighteen months, he served as pastor of the Bisel and Holmes United Methodist Churches. His service to the community extended beyond the pulpit of the churches he served. Together with his wife, Joe regularly volunteered for Hospice of Tuscarawas County, and always made himself available to those in need of pastoral care. Joe’s home is a treasure chest of beautiful tributes. From an abundant garden he tended to in his back yard, to the fruits of his labor as a woodworker that decorate his home, Joe made this world a better place not only from the sermons he preached, but from his talented hands. Joe and JoAnn were blessed with four daughters, Mary Susan Glassner and Patricia Jo Sisson, both of Columbus, Linda (Greg) Donaldson of Dover, and Tamara Glassner of Cleveland.He will also be sadly missed by his five grandchildren, Cara Sisson, Jonathan Sisson, Amy Kneisel, Kyle Donaldson and Shawn Donaldson; two sisters, Mary Elizabeth Bissinger and Iris (Kenneth) London, all of Fort Lauderdale, Florida; a brother, Harry L. (Marian) Glassner of Columbus, OH; and numerous nieces and nephews. His family will receive friends Wednesday, April 20, 2005 from 1-4 and 6-8 PM at the Geib Funeral Center, 5600 North Wooster Avenue, across from Dover Burial Park at Dover. Pastors William Sowers, Edward Beck and Larry Hukill will officiate the Celebration of Life, Thursday morning at 11 AM in the sanctuary of the Broadway United Methodist Church, 120 Church Street SE, New Philadelphia. Special music will begin at 10:30 AM. Burial with military honors will follow in Dover Burial Park at Dover. Following the committal service, a meal will be shared in the fellowship hall at Broadway United Methodist Church. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 201 West Third Street, Dover, OH 44622, or to Broadway United Methodist Church, 120 Church Street, SE, New Philadelphia, OH 44663.