Glen Howard Kokel was welcomed into Heaven on June 3, 2025 at the age of 78. He was born on October 16, 1946 in Georgetown, Texas to Victor and Leona Kokel. He grew up on the family farm in Jarrell, Texas and was baptized and confirmed into the Christian faith at Zion Lutheran Church in Walburg, Texas. At the age of 13, he moved to Austin, Texas to attend Concordia Lutheran High School. After high school, he moved to Seward, Nebraska to attend Concordia University where he graduated in 1968 with a B.S. in Education. He then taught at a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod school in Houston, Texas, where another teacher caught his eye. He married Joyce Timm of St. Louis, Missouri in 1971.

After teaching three years, he transitioned into the foodservice industry working in sales, restaurants, distribution, and brokerage. During that time, he started his own business and became an accomplished and well-respected food broker. After working more than 50 years in the industry, he retired in 2022. Glen and Joyce moved to his childhood home in Jarrell and became members at Zion Walburg.

Glen and Joyce cherished their three children and six grandchildren. In recent years, Glen spent his time growing vegetables, renovating his house, and perpetually maintaining the windmill. He always answered the phone when it rang and could find a connection with anyone he met. He valued keeping in touch with a vast collection of friends, family, and colleagues, while continuing to participate in food shows. Throughout his life, he enjoyed frying fish, cooking steaks, hunting, and fishing. He kept his Lee County ponds stocked with catfish to ensure his grandkids had successful fishing adventures. Glen greeted others warmly with a firm handshake and a never-ending smile. He was known to carry on Uncle Harold's catch phrase "Keep Smiling".

Coincidentally, Glen and Joyce had the same confirmation verse, John 10:27-28 KJV, which reminds us: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."

Glen is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived a large family who loved him dearly. Glen was laid to rest in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Walburg, TX.

Memorials may be given to the Learning Legacy Endowment of Zion Lutheran School (6101 FM 1105, Georgetown, TX 78626) to support Lutheran education for generations to come, or online at https://zionwalburg.churchcenter.com/giving/to/memorial-for-glen-kokel