Glenn Sarka
MARQUETTE, MI- Cancer lost its long battle with Glenn Sarka when his eternal soul was reunited with Jesus Christ on January 23rd at his home in Chocolay Township. Cancer will be cremated along with Glenn’s mortal body.
Glenn leaves behind and awaits his daughter Laila, loving parents Jack and Lula Sarka of Marquette, brother Dan (Carolyn) and nephew Elick of Minneapolis, thirteen cousins, five aunts, an uncle, and countless friends in more than forty countries.
Glenn graduated from Marquette Senior High School in 1983, and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Detroit and juris doctorate from Boston University.
He put his education to work in service to others all over the world. From 2000 to 2008 he worked in Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iraqi Kurdistan on legal reform and legislative drafting projects for the State Department and Department of Defense.
When he came home to his beloved Marquette he served as the Marquette County Domestic Violence Community Coordinator, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, and most recently an attorney in private practice where he focused on criminal defense and family law in state, federal, and tribal courts. He served on the boards of Habitat for Humanity, the Southshore Clubhouse, the Marquette Food Co-op as board president, and the United Way as campaign co-chair. At his passing, he served on the Marquette County Community Corrections Board, the Marquette County Offender Success advisory board, and the Marquette County Crisis Intervention Advisory Committee.
Glenn was actively involved in both the 96th District Court Sobriety Court and the Marquette County Probate Juvenile Treatment Court, and was appointed to various legal positions with the Keweenaw Indian Bay Community, including guardian ad litem, prosecutor, and judge.
His community elected him to the Marquette Area Public School Board of Education three times, most recently in 2024, and he was among the biggest fans of the Marquette Sentinels.
Glenn lived life to the fullest and treated each day as a gift not to be taken for granted. Right to the end he would emphasize “I’m the luckiest guy in the world!” Whether you knew him well, or simply met him in passing, you’d be treated to a genuinely curious “How you doin’?”, likely followed by a conversation that left you feeling better about yourself and the world.
To know Glenn was to love him. To many, he’s the best friend they’ve ever or will ever have. If you’re among those that know him, he asks you to keep him in your heart. Tell his stories, laugh, cry but please don’t be angry. You’ll see him again soon. Rest easy, friend, we’ll see you on the other side–the bright side!
Visitation will be held on Monday, February 3, 2025 from 9 to 11 am at St. Louis the King Catholic Church. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 am with Rev. Thomas Merkel officiating. A luncheon will follow the Mass in the church hall.
Glenn’s Funeral Mass will be livestreamed at https://my.gather.app/remember/glenn-t-sarka
In lieu of flowers, donations to Marquette’s Women Center (wcmqt.org) are encouraged and appreciated.
Canale-Tonella Funeral Home and Cremation Services is assisting the family where memories may be shared at canalefuneral.com.