Duane Robert Glasgow, age 85, passed away on January 14, 2023, in Grand Rapids, MI. He had been battling Alzheimer’s for the past several years.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2023, at 11:00 am at the Hope United Methodist Church in Hastings, with the funeral immediately following at 12:00 pm. A luncheon at the church will be held following the funeral. A private family burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Hastings.
Duane was born on December 20, 1937, in Hastings, Michigan to Robert M. and Vivian A. (Kellogg) Glasgow. He was the youngest of two boys. He was a 1956 graduate of Hastings High School.
Born on a farm in Michigan, Duane learned about machinery and electronics at an early age. He built his first car before he was in high school. At age 15 he was repairing televisions and any other electronics he could get his hands on. While in high school, he also trained at the Sylvania Electronics School. After high school he primarily built drag racing engines. He eventually was asked to team up with driver Gordon Johncock to be the chief mechanic on a super modified car owned by Mace Thomas of Hastings in 1957. They had their first race at Galesburg Speedway in Michigan. The team won more than 150 class features in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, New York, Indiana and Pennsylvania. Eventually, Gordon and Duane branched out on their own. In 1962, the Johncock-Glasgow racing tandem joined the USAC (United States Auto Club).
Duane was the Rookie Mechanic of the Year in the 1965 Indianapolis 500. Two years later he won the overall Mechanic of the Year title. His racing career took him to races all over the country. In October of 1966, the crew and car flew to Japan to race at Fuji Motor Speedway. He went on to be chief mechanic for other drivers before his retirement in 1975. Besides Gordon Johncock, he worked with drivers Bobby Unser, Lee Kunzman, Wally Dallenbach, and Jerry Karl. In 1996 he was inducted into the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame. After retiring from racing, he began transitioning to a second career as the maintenance supervisor for the Hastings Area School System. He retired after 20 years with the schools. In retirement, he enjoyed traveling across the country in his motorhome. He spent most of his summers at the family cabin in Bitely, MI, and winters in Zephyrhills, FL. He enjoyed the family get-togethers at the cabin.
Duane married Frances Peacock on June 28, 1958, at St. Edwards Church in Lake Odessa, MI. They settled in Hastings and raised six kids, 5 boys and one girl. In 1993, after 35 years of marriage, cancer took the life of Frances, who he had met on a blind date. In 1996, he married Carol Sebastian of Lowell, MI. She passed away from cancer in 2007. In 2009, he married Janet M. Harbar. They enjoyed 13 years together.
Duane is survived by his wife, Janet; children: Don (Carrie) Glasgow, Joe Glasgow, and daughter-in-law Tammy Glasgow, all of Hastings, MI, Jim Glasgow of Sun City, Arizona, Mariann Glasgow of Olivet, MI, and stepdaughter Karla (Mike) Dennis of Gobles, MI; grandchildren: Nicholas (Kayla) Glasgow, Matthew (Emilie) Glasgow, Natasha (Jason) Glasgow, Tabitha (fiancé AJ), Amy (Nick) Glasgow, Angela Glasgow, Ryan Glasgow, Michael Glasgow, step-grandchildren Magen and Mitch, several great-grandchildren, sister-in-laws Jo Glasgow Collins and Betty Carey, and brother-in-laws Harry (Helen) Peacock and Richard (Gayle) Peacock.
He was preceded in death by his first wife Frances, brother Maurice, sons John and Robert, parents Robert and Vivian (Kellogg) Glasgow, and second wife. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of Michigan or the Alzheimer's Association Michigan Chapter 25200 Telegraph Rd., Suite 100, Southfield, MI 48033.
Services provided by Girrbach Funeral Home, Hastings, Michigan. To leave online condolences visit www.girrbachfuneralhome.net
Marilyn was born on October 27, 1933 in Caledonia, the daughter of William and Florence (Brearley) Lind. An active member of Parmelee United Methodist Church for many years, Marilyn was employed by The State Bank of Caledonia for forty and a half years, retiring in 1994. Marilyn enjoyed baking, cooking, going to craft shows, traveling, and bus trips, especially to Branson, Missouri to see shows. She was an avid Detroit Tigers fan and loved to watch them play. While working as a waitress at Gehl’s Restaurant in Caledonia, she met a regular named Harry Stafford who became the love of her life, they married on July 28, 1953. Harry preceded her in death in 2016.
