Glen Wallace Singer

COTTAGE GROVE -- Glen W. Singer, age 70, died on November 10, 2013.

Glen was born on September 28, 1943 to Peter and Majorie (Lee) Singer in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from Webster Groves High School (MO) in 1961 and continued his education at Washington University in St. Louis where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude with a B.A. in Political Science. He earned advanced degrees at Washington University (Classics), Stanford University (Classics), and University of Wisconsin-Madison (Library and Information Science).

He was united in marriage to Nelia Olivencia on June 24, 1967 at St. Roch's Church in St. Louis. Together they bore and raised their daughter Marina Olivencia and subsequently became the devoted and loving grandparents of her three children.

Glen taught American literature and English composition at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse from 1970 to 1974. He then held several technical writing, grant development, and editorial positions for the State of Wisconsin before pursuing a thirty-year library-services career with the Department of Corrections. Before retirement in 2009, he served a twenty-two years stint as librarian/law librarian at Columbia Correctional Institution in Portage where he developed, implemented, and administered library resources for the institution from its inception until his retirement. He previously worked as Literacy Librarian at Oakhill Correctional Institution in Oregon where he was a literacy librarian in a pilot project for the use of automated technology in inmate education.

Glen's interests over the years were many and varied: He was an avid reader during his entire life. He was interested in and devoted to foreign and domestic travel (especially Paris, Monterrey, Mexico, Sevilla, Spain, and Algoma, Wisconsin), ancient ruins, art and history museums, zoos, bird watching, music (jazz, blues, and archaic rockabilly), snapshot photography, academic libraries, bookstores, and beers and ales. For the past thirty-five years, he pursued various forms of writing. His poems, academic and professional articles, reviews, translations and short stories appeared in small magazines, journals, commercial publications, and anthologies in both the United States and abroad. Glen was an inveterate baseball fan, following both the minor and major leagues for over sixty years. He remained a steadfast loyalist to his hometown St. Louis Cardinals. He was a long-time season ticket holder and supporter of Wisconsin women's basketball and a Packers' convert.

Glen is survived by Nelia Olivencia, his excellent and beloved wife of 46 years, who was always strong in her support and was his companion in many adventures and daily life; by his exceptional daughter, Marina (Dan) Lindert-Olivencia, who always made him proud; and the wonderful kids, his peerless grandchildren, Alexander Otto, Giselle Elena, and Nicolas Peter Lindert-Olivencia, all of whom gave him great joy and occupied a special place in his heart. He is also survived by special cousins, Walter (Carolyn) Messner of New York City and Gertrude (James) Frein of East Northport, NY.

He wishes to send posthumous thanks to all those who befriended him, helped him, and shared good and bad times with him throughout his life.
Glen was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Curtis L. Singer.

Glen and his family wish to thank the medicals staffs of Group Health Cooperative, University of Wisconsin Hospital, and UW Home Health for their expert care, patience, and compassion. They wish to direct special appreciation to Dr. Holly Benson and Nettie Beyer, RN, of GHC and Bethaney Kunzer, NP, of UW Hospital.

According to Glen's wish there will be a two hour visitation from 5 pm to 7 pm on Wednesday, November 20, 2013 at Informed Choice Chapel, 3325 E. Washington Ave. Madison, WI.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Olbrich Botanical Gardens.