Paul Glad
August 15, 1926 - November 03, 2018
Obituary
MIDDLETON-It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Professor Paul W. Glad on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, after a prolonged illness. He fortunately enjoyed a long and successful career, positively influencing family, friends, colleagues and students. He was born in Salt Lake City on Aug. 15, 1926, but spent most of his early years in Geneva, Ill. He graduated from Geneva Community High School in 1944 and joined the Navy V-12 program. He attended Purdue University, graduating in 1947 with a degree in Naval Science and Tactics. He subsequently attended Indiana University, where he obtained a master’s degree and Ph.D. in history. He married his lifelong companion and confidant Carolyn Louise Biede in 1948 and they have been devoted to each other and inseparable ever since. They raised four children, Thomas, Susan, Richard and Steven, who have been their pride and joy. Teaching history has always been his passion. He taught at Hastings College; Coe College; Marburg University, Germany; University of Maryland; University of Graz, Austria; University of Clermont-Ferrand, France; University of Wisconsin; Chicago University; and the University of Oklahoma.
Professor Glad’s accomplishments are too numerous to mention but include being a Fulbright Professor, Guggenheim Professor, Merrick Scholar and Regents Professor at the University of Oklahoma. He wrote numerous books and publications, several of which have been included in the White House library and Library of Congress. He taught and mentored scholars of the highest caliber but his greatest gift has been teaching undergraduates and graduate students. Many have returned to thank him for his influence and guidance.
He is survived by his wife, Carolyn of 70 years; four children; multiple grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren. He has been a wonderful mentor. All will remember his sense of humor, dedication to his profession, cringe at his jokes but mostly remember his deep sense of caring.
Private family services have already been held. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson West
Funeral & Cremation Care
7435 University Ave.
(608) 831-6761
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Memories
DB
Debra Baumann
Other •
My sincerest condolences to the family members of Paul’s. May all the wonderful memories of him bring you comfort at this time. He will be missed.....
Debra
GW
Gregg E Waterman
Other •
I recall the 20th century American history class I had at the UW with Paul Glad. I remember him often opening his lectures with music he used to introduce a theme, e.g. "Ezekiel Saw that Wheel a Rollin" on the topic of how African Americans experienced the roaring '20s. It's kind of revealing how a death can make you aware of something about yourself. Although I thought of Professor Glad's class at times over the last four decades, I only now first link him to recognizing how history often plays out in music. That may be one of the best examples I can think of on the value of a liberal arts education. I hope those most emotionally bound to Professor Glad, while grieving his passage, find relief knowing he well shaped me and many other students. He truly exemplifies a great educator, and we all can take comfort knowing his good work continues. In honor and with sympathy, Gregg Waterman
JK
John F Kolb
Other •
My Best to both the Glad and Biede families. When I was a boy, Carolyn's parents would visit my grandparents (Fred and Fern Clover), with whom they were close friends. I remember their visits to this day.
Due to me life long interest in History (BA, Loyola University), I remember my mother telling me about Dr Glad and how highly he was regarded, and about his expertise.
I have lived in Wisconsin for at least 42 years most recently near Portage, an area of much history and the home of Frederick Jackson Turner.
This morning I was reading the State journal and noticed the obituary for Dr Glad, whom my mother always regarded as a great historian.
My very best to all the family! I am proud to have a connection to both Carolyn and the Professor.
With sincere condolences, - John Kolb, Portage WI
BW
Barbara Wymore
Other •
My fondest memory of Paul is the sailboat trip in Alaska when he rewrote the words to an old song and we all sang it on the last evening on the boat. He and I shared a silly sense of humor and many laughs over the years. He is missed!
BK
Ben Gareth Keppel
Other •
My colleagues and I at the University of Oklahoma just received this very sad news. Paul came to OU in the late 1970s and joined H. Wayne Morgan to give us great strength and quality in teaching about the gilded age. In fact, when Professor Glad, taught our upper division course on the interwar years, one of his "nontraditional students" who was returning to school in later life, endowed a chair in twentieth century US history. I first became familiar with Paul Glad as an undergraduate at UC Davis when I wrote a research paper on William Jennings Bryan and was thrilled to find my self his colleague a little more than a decade later.
I consider myself deeply fortunate that Paul Glad became my friend--he taught me a lot about Herbert Hoover (his last project) but, far more important, the importance of walking softly, being kind and gentle, while also keeping your head down and just doing your work, without a lot of wing flapping and self promotion.
I will miss him.
Ben Keppel