Glenda Tellkamp Obituary

Glenda Helen (Knight) Tellkamp, 84, passed away at home, surrounded by family, on Friday, April 21, 2023, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was born January 28, 1939, in Mecosta to Truman and Helen (Smith) Knight. She graduated in 1956 from Mecosta Rural Agricultural School. After high school, she worked as a telephone operator for Michigan Bell Telephone Company in Big Rapids, where she met her love, Richard (Dick) Tellkamp, who preceded her in death in 2000. They were married on November 26, 1960, at St. Michael Catholic Church in Remus, and together, raised five children. After having three children in the first three years they were married, Glenda replaced her part-time, paid position with full-time homemaking while volunteering tirelessly over the next half-century with St. Mary Catholic School and Church, the Knights of Columbus, and St. Vincent de Paul on countless committees, often as treasurer or chairperson, particularly for fundraisers. Glenda is survived by her second husband, John Montgomery, with whom she enjoyed traveling to dozens of countries. In 2014, she fulfilled her lifelong dream of making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, with her sister and two of her children. Also surviving are her children: Jeffrey Tellkamp of Big Rapids, Cynthia (Daryl) Penfold of Caledonia, April (Stephen) Addleman of Fishers, Indiana, Christopher (Tammi) Tellkamp of Byron Center, Michael (Kariana) Tellkamp of Hastings, and eleven grandchildren, including four grandsons who earned their Eagle Scout honor, the highest rank achievable in the Boy Scouts of America; her siblings, Gary (Janice) Knight of Lansing, June (Sam) Straub of Rodney, Dale (Chris) Knight of Cadillac, and many nieces and nephews. Glenda modeled a strong faith in Christ, daily reciting the Rosary, which gave her great personal comfort to the end. Glenda also found lasting comfort in yardwork after her husband passed unexpectedly, and often shared her hope that there would be weeding in heaven. Visitation will be held at Daggett-Gilbert Funeral Home in Big Rapids on Thursday, April 27, from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm with a Rosary being prayed at 7:30 pm. Mass of the Resurrection will be held at St. Mary Catholic Church in Big Rapids on Friday, April 28 at 11 am, with visitation one hour prior. Her final resting place will be next to her beloved Dick at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Big Rapids. Memorials may be made to Right to Life of Michigan at rtl. org/donate/ and St. Vinny's Ministry at 102 Williams Street, Big Rapids, Michigan 49307. Share a memory or leave a condolence for the family at www. daggettgilbertfuneralhome. com