William “Bill” Stanley Glueck passed away Jan. 30, 2016, at the age of 88. The demolition industry veteran opened Plant Reclamation in Richmond, California, in 1972.
Glueck began his career in the industry by performing demolition work in the rail yards and gold mines of Northern California as a means of generating scrap metal for his employer, according to the Washington-based National Demolition Association (NDA). He performed similar efforts in the San Francisco Bay area for several other scrap metal yard employers before founding Plant Reclamation.
The NDA describes Glueck as “a mentor to many in the demolition industry and a friend to all. He loved the industry, the people and the machinery more than anything else, except his family.”
“After 44 years of industrial demolition expertise, Bill’s legacy is still going strong,” NDA says.
In an introduction to Glueck’s obituary, available at www.legacy.com, it reads, “You always knew when Bill was about to enter a room because his spirit was so bright the room lit up before he arrived. The sky was certainly bright on the night of Jan. 30. Bill did things his own way. He was never short of words or a really corny joke, therefore, we were not surprised (okay, maybe a little surprised) to learn that he wrote his own obituary.”
In his own words, Glueck’s obituary says, “Very few people have the opportunity to write their own obituary.
I was born in New Jersey raised in Fresno County, California, before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corp at the age of 17. I saw combat on Okinawa and Saipan; the rest of my “hitch” was spent in Japan.
On returning home, I farmed with my father in Fresno County. I then married the greatest woman in the world, Bernice, and had three wonderful children Fred, Shelly and Michael, and 10 superior grandchildren.
After leaving the farm, I went to work in a profession I had learned in the military and entered the demolition field. I became a demolition contractor and loved every day of my life.
I was a founding member of Round Hill Country Club, where I made many great friends in the club and in the county. I did what public service I could do forming the County P-5 District and operating as its director for 10 years, leading to a great relationship as a civilian working with two excellent sheriffs.
Now that I am gone to the great demolition job in the sky, don’t mourn my passing, celebrate the great times and friends I had on this earth.”
Glueck is survived by his three children – Fred (wife Annelise), Shelly (husband Pete Thigpen) and Michael (wife Connie); 19 grandchildren – Sarah, Elaine (husband Eric George), Cameron, Scott, Zach (Thigpen), Gavin, Gaylin, Grayson, Gaphne and Garen; two great grandchildren – Evan and Estelle; and his brother Alan Glueck of Denver, Colorado.
A private family service will be held. A celebration of his life will follow Feb. 12, 2016, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Round Hill Country Club.
Glueck began his career in the industry by performing demolition work in the rail yards and gold mines of Northern California as a means of generating scrap metal for his employer, according to the Washington-based National Demolition Association (NDA). He performed similar efforts in the San Francisco Bay area for several other scrap metal yard employers before founding Plant Reclamation.
The NDA describes Glueck as “a mentor to many in the demolition industry and a friend to all. He loved the industry, the people and the machinery more than anything else, except his family.”
“After 44 years of industrial demolition expertise, Bill’s legacy is still going strong,” NDA says.
In an introduction to Glueck’s obituary, available at www.legacy.com, it reads, “You always knew when Bill was about to enter a room because his spirit was so bright the room lit up before he arrived. The sky was certainly bright on the night of Jan. 30. Bill did things his own way. He was never short of words or a really corny joke, therefore, we were not surprised (okay, maybe a little surprised) to learn that he wrote his own obituary.”
In his own words, Glueck’s obituary says, “Very few people have the opportunity to write their own obituary.
I was born in New Jersey raised in Fresno County, California, before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corp at the age of 17. I saw combat on Okinawa and Saipan; the rest of my “hitch” was spent in Japan.
On returning home, I farmed with my father in Fresno County. I then married the greatest woman in the world, Bernice, and had three wonderful children Fred, Shelly and Michael, and 10 superior grandchildren.
After leaving the farm, I went to work in a profession I had learned in the military and entered the demolition field. I became a demolition contractor and loved every day of my life.
I was a founding member of Round Hill Country Club, where I made many great friends in the club and in the county. I did what public service I could do forming the County P-5 District and operating as its director for 10 years, leading to a great relationship as a civilian working with two excellent sheriffs.
Now that I am gone to the great demolition job in the sky, don’t mourn my passing, celebrate the great times and friends I had on this earth.”
Glueck is survived by his three children – Fred (wife Annelise), Shelly (husband Pete Thigpen) and Michael (wife Connie); 19 grandchildren – Sarah, Elaine (husband Eric George), Cameron, Scott, Zach (Thigpen), Gavin, Gaylin, Grayson, Gaphne and Garen; two great grandchildren – Evan and Estelle; and his brother Alan Glueck of Denver, Colorado.
A private family service will be held. A celebration of his life will follow Feb. 12, 2016, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Round Hill Country Club.
Latest from Construction & Demolition Recycling
- Nucor names new president
- Iron Bull addresses scrap handling needs with custom hoppers
- Brass Knuckle designs glove for cold weather applications
- Metso, ALLU, Kinshofer recognized by AEM
- Eagle Crusher to unveil Talon line at CONEXPO-CON/AGG
- Raken announces expanded construction monitoring capabilities
- BCC Research forecasts growth for recycled wood market
- Colorado recycling company transitions to electric mobile equipment
