Glen Ernest Strecker, 77, of Overland Park, Kansas, departed this life peacefully on September 19, 2026, at home and surrounded by family. Glen was a loving father and grandfather, and his beautiful, blue-eyed smile will be deeply missed by his family and friends.
Glen was born November 10, 1948, to Ernest and Eva Strecker. The baby of the family, Glen was welcomed home to the family farm in Paradise, Kansas by older sisters, Mary and Kay, and brother, Albert. As a farm kid, Glen experienced the joys of a free-range childhood, finding time for mischief with his siblings while tending to his many farm chores. He took a liking to sports immediately and was fiercely competitive, especially with big brother, Al. At Paradise High School, Glen earned varsity letters in cross country, basketball, baseball, and track. He graduated from Paradise High School in 1966 and continued his basketball career for a short time on the Kansas State University freshman squad.
At Kansas State, Glen soon traded sweating on the basketball court at Ahearn Field House for a social life with his FarmHouse brothers, many of whom became lifelong friends. Glen eventually channeled his outgoing nature and athleticism to a new endeavor by trying out to be the school mascot, Willie the Wildcat. When he walked into the tryout and saw an old basketball coach and several people associated with the FarmHouse fraternity, Glen knew he had the job locked down. Glen loved to entertain and inspire crowds at the newly built KSU Stadium (now known as Bill Snyder Family Stadium), donning the now retired real-life Wildcat head and a football uniform, performing any number of hijinks. Glen spoke of those days fondly, telling stories of riding his beloved horse, Fella, on the field before a football game. Before the success of the Bill Snyder era, he loved to joke that he was "on the field" the last time Kansas State beat Nebraska in football (November 9, 1968). But perhaps his most important accomplishment at Kansas State was meeting his beloved wife, Rhonda, who attended a cheerleading camp while she was still in high school. Even though Rhonda could not see Glen's face behind the Willie head, she fell in love with his voice and the rest, as they say, is history. Glen graduated from Kansas State in 1971 and returned to Paradise to teach in the rural school district.
Glen and Rhonda eloped in a small church in Russell, Kansas on April 19, 1973, on a day off from school for both. They made a home together on a farm near Paradise, visible from the farmhouse on the hill where he grew up and where his parents still resided. Glen resigned from teaching to farm full-time the same year and learned to love the ups and downs and the hard work that is tending to a small crop farm in rural Kansas. Together they had three children, sons Devin and Brandon, and daughter Adrienne. As a family of five, life was never dull on the farm. Glen worked hard to provide but he always went the extra mile to make sure his children had a magical childhood. From installing an ice-skating rink in the yard to driving cross country in an RV, all three children agree they would not trade their early years on the farm for any other upbringing.
When the children were older, the family left the farm and moved to Hays, Kansas. Glen earned a master's degree in counseling from Fort Hays State University in 1992 and began his career as a guidance counselor at Hays High School. In 2000, Glen and Rhonda moved to Olathe, Kansas where Glen spent the rest of his career as a guidance counselor at Olathe North High School, specializing in helping student athletes obtain NCAA eligibility. Over the years, Glen helped countless students and was adored by all who were lucky enough to know Mr. Strecker as their guidance counselor or Coach Strecker as their "golf facilitator" at Olathe North.
Glen retired from education in 2012, affording him more time to travel to California to visit his sons. Not long after, his free time was filled with grandchildren. Granddaughter Eva attended the Glen and Rhonda daycare four days a week in their home in Olathe. Nineteen months later, grandson Emmett followed suit. Glen enjoyed the slow moments with the babies, holding them in his lap for a bottle and nap, but also the adventures out of the home to places like Deanna Rose Farmstead. Glen found so much joy in watching them grow and attending their many performances and sporting events. Eva and Emmett were blessed to have him as their "Papa."
Glen battled cancer for 18 months like he did most things in life - with a positive attitude and a strong will. He still gardened this past summer, and his family continues to enjoy the peppers and tomatoes he tended to with love. He remained an avid KSU football and Royals fan, watching games until the very end of his life.
Glen is survived by his beloved wife, Rhonda, of 53 years, his son Devin Strecker (husband Dylan Tucker), his son Brandon Strecker (wife Angela Strecker), his daughter, Adrienne Joyner (husband Drew Joyner and children, Eva and Emmett), and his sister, Kay Augustine (Harold). Glen is preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Eva, his sister, Mary Anderson, and his brother, Albert Strecker. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to the American Cancer Society.
A celebration of life will be held on Friday, October 23, 2026, from 2:30-4:30 at the Bluemont Room in the Kansas State University Student Union (918 N. M.L.K., Jr. Drive, Manhattan, Kansas 66506). Please dress in whatever makes you comfortable, knowing that the family will be wearing purple in honor of their very own Willie the Wildcat.
Cremation Society of Kansas & Missouri is honored to serve the family of Glen Ernest Strecker.
