Date of Birth:
Monday, November 15, 1926
Date of Death:
Tuesday, July 2, 2019
Age:
92 years old

Joseph Roy McGlinch

Joe McGlinch, 92, died July 2, 2019 at his home in Rochester. He leaves behind his dearly loved wife of 59 years, Clarice and family. In addition to being a devoted husband and dad, Joe spent more than 30 years as a dedicated employee of IBM Rochester, he was an established local musician, and he volunteered his time with many civic and charitable organizations and his church.

Joseph Roy McGlinch was born November 15, 1926 in Stillwater, MN to Roy James McGlinch and Jennie Inez (McCarthy) McGlinch. He attended St. Michael’s School through 1940 then graduated from Stillwater High School in 1944.

Upon graduation in 1944, Joe enlisted in the U.S. Navy. During his Naval service, he spent many off-duty hours playing big band music. After discharge from the Navy in June 1946, he returned to Stillwater and attended St. Thomas College for one year before joining a family retail business. In 1950, he was called up into the U.S. Army for the Korean War and was a member of the 47^th Infantry Division Band. Upon discharge in 1952, Joe returned to Stillwater and rejoined the business world.

In 1954, Joe moved to Rochester, taking a job for several years at Welhaven music selling musical instruments. He became a fixture in the local music scene for almost fifty years. He was a bassist in the Rochester Symphony for twenty-two years and a trombonist in the Park Band for eighteen years. He played in numerous other local groups, including the Notochords, Trombones Anonymous, and the Naturals. He shared his love of music with his family, and it formed an important part of his life until the end.

In 1958, Joe began a long career at IBM, working in product development and customer education positions. As he did everywhere he went, he made lasting friendships at IBM. Some of his friends there shared his love of music, others enjoyed monthly poker nights or civic volunteer work. Joe retired in 1985.

In the fall of 1959, at a communion breakfast, he met the love of his life, Clarice Mae Garrotto, a surgical nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital. They married on May 7, 1960 at St. Joseph’s Church, Mason City, IA, in the midst of a late spring snowstorm. They made their home in Byron and eventually welcomed four children. For decades, they attended Christ the King Catholic Church in Byron.

Joe gave generously of his time to local civic organizations. He was elected to the Byron Village Council in 1960 and served as Mayor from 1965 to 1969.  During his terms in local government, the town grew rapidly and he oversaw the addition of house numbers, new streets, and the establishment of the Byron Municipal Liquor Store. Joe served on may other boards and groups, including the Rochester Boy Choir and the Executive Board Local #437 of the Musicians Union. He cared about libraries and served on the Rochester Public Library Board during the planning and development of the current library facility, and he was also appointed to the SELCO-SELS Board, which supported library services throughout southeastern Minnesota. Retirement opened more time for his family. He and Clarice loved each other’s company and traveled frequently, especially to Ireland and Scotland. He enjoyed taking his small grandchildren out for lunch or ice cream, and his ties with them remained close as they grew to adulthood.

In addition to his wife, Clarice, Joe is survived by his children, Mark (Marcia) of Rochester, Brian (Pamela) of Woodbury, MN, Jane of Rochester, Peg of Washington, D.C.; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and his sister, Mary (Roger) Wohlers of Stillwater, MN.

The family would like to thank Mayo Hospice and its dedicated caregivers, who blessed him and Clarice with extraordinary love and care over the past year and who became dear friends. We are truly grateful for Denise Dupras, M.D., whose care for and friendship with Dad gave us decades’ more time with him. Finally, to Father Thomas Loomis and all the extraordinary ministers who provided Communion, blessings and comfort to Dad in his final months, we owe you a debt that can never be repaid. We celebrate these remarkable people who shared time with this beautiful soul, Joe.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to The Giving Tree of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Rochester.

The funeral service for Joe will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 5, 2019 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home (1119 11 1/2 Street SE Rochester, MN) with Rev. Thomas Loomis officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the chapel. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery of Rochester.