Our beloved father, brother, grandfather, and friend passed away February 11, 2012, unexpectedly from a heart attack.
He was born in Ogden, UT on December 12, 1946 to Henry and Mary Kawa. Glen attended Weber High School, and received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah and his master’s degree from Utah State University. He was a two-time state wrestling champion in high school and went on to wrestle at the University of Utah , where he was a team captain and placed second in the Western Athletic Conference.
Glen was a wrestling coach and teacher at Kearns High School for 36 years. He also officiated wrestling for 24 years. During his time at Kearns, he was the Health Science Educator of the Year in 1998 and was inducted into the Kearns High Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Kearns High Faculty Hall of Fame in 2002. His other accomplishments include being inducted into the Utah Wrestling Coaches and Officials Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Utah Wrestling Federation Hall of Fame in 2010, and he was the Kearns Community Honorary Citizen of the Year in 2006.
Glen’s greatest joy in life was spending time with his daughter and grandchildren. His hobbies included fishing, gardening, and cooking and he would often go out of his way to deliver vegetables and delicious meals to family and friends. He was always willing to lend a hand to friends and neighbors and was the first to help take care of his family. Through his example, Glen taught us to enjoy and cherish our family and all of the friends we make.
He is survived by his brothers, Bob Kawa, Gene (Jackie) Kawa; sister, Nancy Kawa Yonetani; daughter, Stephanie (Ryan) Johnston; grandchildren, Bentley and Maxwell; and beloved and special friend, Margaret Lucero. Preceded in death by his parents Henry and Mary Kawa.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, February 17, at Kearns High School, 5525 South 4800 West. Viewings will be held on Thursday, February 16, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temple, and Friday, February 17, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at Kearns High School.
Coach Kawa created inspiration in all of us, from the tiny gestures to the large ones.
“Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them become what they are capable of becoming.” — Goethe
My condolence to the family, he was a amazing human spirit.
I graduated from KHS in 2001. I never had Coach Kawa as a teacher, but I would talk to him in the halls and he was always friendly. He was a good man and a good teacher. It was obvious that he cared about the students. I am sorry for your loss.