Herman J. Glinski, 99 of Stevens Point, went to be with the good Lord early Monday morning October 5, 2015 while residing at the Whispering Pines Assisted Living Center. He was born March 29, 1916 in Stevens Point, the only child of John and Emily (Marchel) Glinski. His mother died a month after his birth. His father then married Katherine Gollon. His step mother adopted him and she and his father died while Herman was in his early teens. He was then raised by his grandparents.

Herman attended Grant School and St. Peters Parochial School. He was excused from attending the fourth grade and went directly to fifth grade, a fact he always regretted since it was more difficult for him to be competitive in sports. While in grade school, he became an accomplished piano player who performed at parent-teacher meetings, on the Children’s Hour on radio station WLBL, on Saturday mornings at the Fox Theater and later at meetings of the Knights of Columbus and other organizations.

He was able to copy some of the flashy style of Liberace to the amusement of his audiences.

Herman graduated from Emerson High School in 1933. The parish priest then placed him with the Salvatorian Fathers who operated a minor seminary at St. Nazianz, WI. After graduating, he attended St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN, a major seminary operated by the Benedictine Order. As a member of the Glee Club, he played the piano and sang. The highlight was a performance for the installation of a new Bishop at Fargo, ND.

He met his beloved wife, Ethel Shippy, and they were married at St. Peter’s Catholic Church on September 6, 1937. They moved to Milwaukee where Herman attended Marquette University Law School.

He graduated first in his class in 1940 with a degree of Doctor of Jurisprudence cum laude. At law school he was a member of the editorial board of the Marquette Law Review, author of a publication entitled “Joint and Mutual Wills”, and a prizewinner in a national essay contest conducted by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers for his essay entitled “Plagiarism of Copyrighted Musicals”. He was also a member of Delta Theta Phi, a legal fraternity, which awarded him a certificate in recognition of his scholarly achievements.

Upon graduation from law school, the dean advised him that several large law firms in Chicago and Milwaukee were interested in having him join them. However, he and Ethel did not care for big city life and preferred to live in a smaller city and came back to Stevens Point. He then opened up a law office in 1940. He immediately became a candidate for Distract Attorney of Portage County. There were five candidates and he finished second. The Democratic Party offered him the chairmanship of the Portage County Democratic Party.

In analyzing past election returns, he noticed that there was not sufficient participation by rural areas and labor unions, so he scheduled rallies throughout the county and spoke at union meetings. In recognition of his efforts, the President of the United States appointed him acting Postmaster of the Stevens Point Post Office and later he became the commissioned postmaster.

Being in his twenties, he was one of the youngest, if not the youngest, postmaster of a large, first class post office in the United States.

At the next election, he was elected District Attorney of Portage County. At that time the position was a part time job that also required the holder to serve as Corporation Counsel, but he was still able to continue his civil law practice. While still serving his first term in office, he served in the United States Navy in WWII. After receiving his honorable discharge, he resumed serving as District attorney and, at the following election, was re-elected to serve a second term.

While in the seminary, he studied six languages: Latin, Greek, German, French, Polish and English. He was the only local lawyer who could speak Polish, so he developed a large Polish clientele and the law practice grew from one lawyer to seven lawyers and eight secretaries.

He enjoyed trial work and derived great satisfaction in being able to help his clients. He practiced law for over 65 years. For 31 years, his law office was located in the Professional Building on Clark Street in Stevens Point. He sold the building at a substantial discount to the Stevens Point School District in 2001.

Towards the end of his career he was a member of the Glinski, Klein, Anderson & Haka Law firm. Herman served the following organizations as a member or officer; Guest lecturer and instructor at the University of Wisconsin Law School, Chief Ranger of local court of the Catholic Order of Foresters, Chairman of the Portage County Democratic Party, County Chairman of the March of Dimes (anti polio organization that eliminated iron lungs), Wisconsin Committee for Association of Trial Lawyers of America, President of Portage County Bar Association, Organizer and officer of Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers (now Wisconsin Association for Justice), Director of State Bar Negligence Section, Member of Governor’s Committee on Automobile Reparations, President of Seventh Judicial Circuit Bar Association, New York State Association of Plaintiff’s Trial Lawyers, American Judicature Society, Wisconsin Bar Association, American Bar Association, Portage County Bar Association, Pastoral Council of St. Peter’s Church, Knights of Columbus 3rd and 4th Degree, Stevens Point Elks Lodge #642, American Legion Berens-Scribner Post 6, and various committees and organizations such as debate team, drama, athletic teams (captain of his basketball team), choir, music and boy scouts.

For 40 years, he and his family enjoyed a summer house on the Waupaca Chain O’ Lakes. He loved sports and played tennis to age 80. He also followed the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Bucks, Milwaukee Brewers and UW- SP Athletics.

However, his most satisfying and rewarding hobby was analyzing and investing in the stock market at which he became so proficient that friends and family sought his advice.

Herman is survived by his sons; James (Saundra) Glinski of Oconomowoc, WI, John (Barbara) Glinski of Middleton, WI, David (Kathryn) Glinski of Plover and Richard Glinski of Stevens Point, and a son- in- law Michael Toffler of Fox Point. WI. He is further survived by his grandchildren; Corrine Griffin , Jason Toffler, Kami Joseph, Jeffrey Glinski , Michael Glinski and Christopher Glinski. Two step grandchildren, John and Michael Jagoditsh. His great grandchildren; Alex, Nick and Haley Griffin, Jacob and Ella Joseph, Hannah, Alia, Sofia, Isabella, Joseph and Nathaniel Glinski and Step- great grandchildren Daisy, Lola, Dexter, Zeb and Isabella Jagoditsh.

Herman was preceded in death by his wife Ethel and one daughter Ethel Toffler. In lieu of flowers a memorial in Herman’s name will be established at a later date.

Funeral Mass will be 11:00 A.M. Friday, October 9, 2015 at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church of Holy Spirit Parish, 838 Fremont Street, Stevens Point, with the Rev. Thomas Lindner officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow in the Guardian Angel Cemetery. Family and friends may call from 10:00 A.M. Friday morning at St. Stanislaus Church of Holy Spirit Parish until the time for mass.

The Pisarski Funeral Home of Stevens Point is honored to be serving the family. Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.pisarskifuneralhome.com

The family would like to express a “thank you” to Whispering Pines and their staff for their wonderful and tender care given to our father, and to Ministry Home Care Hospice for their guidance and compassion.