In loving memory of Glenn Erdman - Obituary Baldwin Brothers

Obituary

GLENN EMIL ERDMAN

2/20/1949 – 2/21/2022

Glenn Emil Erdman passed away one day after his 73^rd birthday on February 21, 2022 of natural causes at Cornerstone’s Hospice House in Tavares, FL. Born in Beulah, ND on February 20, 1949, he drew his first breath in the middle of a blizzard at a nursing home that reserved a bed for mothers in labor. He was the fifth of six children born to Hulda and Emil Erdman. A week later his mother brought him home to Golden Valley, ND on the morning milk train because the roads were impassible. His father met them with a horse drawn sleigh and took them to their farm house where there was no running water or electricity. His early life was full of farm chores and school…not much time for anything else. When Glenn was seven, John Little Tree, who was a local Native American Indian, came to the house to use a divining rod to find water to dig a well next to the house. Glenn was just the right size to go down into the well to bring up buckets of soil. It was a big day in 1955 when they got running water in the house, and a year later, electricity. Glenn’s father became ill when he was 12 while his two older brothers were at college and serving in Vietnam. Glenn took over caring for the cattle, harvesting the hay, and clearing rocks from fields before tilling among many other duties. Glenn graduated from high school and spent some time in the roofing industry. One bitterly cold day, he said “to heck with this” and decided to go to college at Bismarck State. He sang in the choir while studying to become a respiratory therapist. He spent 41 years practicing that and working for durable medical equipment companies in Monticello, IN and Lake Okeechobee, FL. The last 21 years of his career were spent at Florida Hospital Waterman in Eustis and Tavares, FL working weekend nights in the ER and ICU. He saved and called many lives while earning the respect of the physicians and staff. Glenn retired at age 62 and pursued his favorite pastimes…. golf, deep sea fishing, and cooking. He was a lifetime member of Sons of Amvets Squadron 1992 in Mount Dora, FL. He served as the Finance Officer for three years as well as grilled hundreds of steaks on Saturday nights. Glenn also volunteered for Cornerstone Hospice Foundation as a bartender for many fund-raising events.

He was predeceased by his father Emil Erdman and oldest brother James Erdman (Gayle,) all of Golden Valley, ND. Survivors include his wife of 10 years Susan Bennett of Mount Dora, FL and her two children William (Jill) Bennett and Hannah Bennett all of Salt Lake City, UT; his 103-year-old mother Hulda Erdman of Bismarck, ND; his daughters Tonya Gray (Bruce) of Austin, TX and Tasha Hart and several grandchildren of Sioux Falls, SD; siblings Clifford Erdman of Nehalem, OR; Lucille Chase of Annapolis, MD; Laura Stuhlmiller (Gary) of Chandler, AZ; Earl Erdman (Jolene) of Bismarck, ND; and several nieces and nephews throughout the country. He also leaves behind dear lifetime friends Dee and Vern Stuhlmiller of Mandan, ND as well as local friends Joe Duchac of Eustis, FL; John Prudhomme and Grant Horen both of Leesburg, Fl; and a plethora of long-time pals at AMVETS POST 1992.

A Celebration of Life will take place at a later date. Thank you to the compassionate staff at Cornerstone Hospice for providing care and support for the five weeks leading up to Glenn’s passing.

If anyone wants to memorialize Glenn, in lieu of flowers consider a donation in his name to SONS OF AMVETS POST 1992, 32301 AMVETS WAY, MOUNT DORA, FL 32757 or CORNERSTONE HOSPICE, 2445 LANE PARK ROAD, TAVARES, FL 32778.