Roger E. Glawatz passed away surrounded by family at the Country House Residence in Lincoln, Nebraska on March 8, 2025. He was 81.

He was born the first child of Elmer Barthold Friedrich Glawatz and Esther Emma Marie (Loontjer) Glawatz in Deshler, Nebraska on December 1, 1943.  He grew up in the Deshler Public Schools and went on to attend Concordia University where he met his first wife, Karen Firnhaber.  From 1966 to 1973, Roger taught Jr. High classes and coached boys' basketball at St. Paul Lutheran School in Strasburg, IL, where the couple's son Peter was born.

Roger, Karen, and Peter moved back to Seward in 1973, where Roger's life of service to his community, his church and to those in need began in earnest.  He began working for the Division of Rehabilitation Services, Nebraska Department of Education as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, serving offices in Lancaster, Saline, and Seward Counties while simultaneously pursuing graduate education in Counseling, Psychology, Sociology, and Special Education, eventually becoming a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor.  Roger continued in this endeavor through 2012 and his retirement, having been promoted to Area Administrator in 2005.

In 1978, he found a lifelong companion in Sharon Kay Glawatz, and they were married on April 14, 1979.  Soon after, in 1981, he had a second son whom the couple named Matthew Joseph.

He treasured his life in Seward and became involved in its enrichment and progress.  From 1974 to 1980 he served on the Seward Planning Commission as its Secretary, initially, and eventually its Vice Chair.  In 1980, Roger was elected to the City Council serving his Ward and the City as Council President until 1991, when he replaced Mayor Fred Welsh who passed away in office. In 1994 he returned to the Council until 1998, when he was elected Mayor in his own right, in which position he presided until 2010 – collectively occupying the office for fifteen years, making him one of the longest-serving Mayors in Seward's history.

During his time in elected office, he simultaneously sat on the Board of Directors of the League of Nebraska Municipalities (as its President from 2002 to 2003), was an original incorporator of the Seward Foundation, and was a member (and sometime President) of the Rotary Club, the Seward County Economic Development Corporation, the Board of Directors of the Seward Area Chamber of Commerce, the Chair of the Seward Cemetery Committee, the Local Elected Officials Board through the Nebraska Department of Labor, and the Seward County Democrats. After his retirement, he was elected to the Seward County Commission, serving as Chair for a portion of his term.

Roger also found his spiritual home in Seward, both at St. John Lutheran Church and Concordia University.

At St. John, he served as a worship and communion assistant on Sundays, as the Chair of the Finance, Building Fund, Personnel and Constitution & Bylaws Committees, as the Vice President of the congregation from 1988 to 1992 and from 1996 to 1998, and a School Board member as both Secretary and Vice Chairperson.

At Concordia, Roger eventually served as both Vice Chair and Chair of the Concordia Foundation, worked on the Board of Regents from 1998 to 2001 and was the Concordia Alumni Association President.  He was the Advisory Delegate for the Board of Regents to the Synodical Convention, a Circuit Voting Lay Delegate, and a Family Life Committee Member.

Roger did all this humbly, selflessly and without need for recognition, so Roger was especially proud of being selected as the Seward Community Service Award winner in 2020.  His family, friends and community will truly miss him.  His rest is greatly deserved.

Roger is survived by his wife, Sharon; his sons and their families, Matthew & Maggie Glawatz and Josephine, Peter Glawatz & James Tipper and his brothers and their families, Rev. Dale & Gloria Glawatz and William & Nancy Glawatz.

He was preceded in death by his son, Roger Glawatz; his parents, Elmer and Esther Glawatz and his first wife, Karen Firnhaber.