Remembering Delores Ruth Glienke: A Life of Faith and Service at 93

Miami Springs, Florida, USA - Mrs. Delores Ruth Glienke (Otto), aged 93, passed away on April 21, 2025, in Flowery Branch, Georgia. Her extraordinary journey began on September 1, 1931, in Alta, Iowa, where she was born to Albert and Hazel Otto. Baptized shortly after her arrival and confirmed as a young girl, Delores was rooted in her faith from an early age.

Delores attended St. John’s Lutheran School in Hanover, Iowa for her elementary education and later graduated from Alta High School in 1949. The course of her life took a significant turn when she married Rev. Herman Glienke on June 15, 1952, at St. John Lutheran Church in Hanover. Just a few months later, the couple embarked on a remarkable adventure, moving to Havana, Cuba, on September 1, 1952, aboard the P&O Steamship Company. There, Delores not only supported her husband but also engaged with diverse congregants in Spanish, German, and English.

A Life of Service and Community

The couple moved to the Isle of Pines, Cuba in 1955, where Delores helped establish both English and Spanish-speaking services. However, by late 1960, due to mounting social unrest in Cuba, Delores made the tough decision to leave with her three children and relocate to Miami. This challenging transition marked a new chapter for the family, who reunited in January 1961 and began a new life at St. Paul Lutheran Church in South Miami.

After a few months, they enjoyed nine years in Key West before returning to the Miami area in 1970 to continue their ministry. Delores was dedicated not only to her husband’s work but also made her mark by spending 20 years at the JFK Library in Hialeah. Reflecting on this time, one could say she had a good hand in fostering community connections.

In 1982, she took on another role, leading a group of volunteers to prepare for the Faith Lutheran Library. She served as the librarian from 1984 to 1991, further cementing her legacy of service to the community.

Connections to a Rich History

The Isle of Pines, where Delores once lived, is steeped in a complex historical narrative. As History News Network covers, this picturesque island was home to several hundred Americans during the late 1950s. Various figures—tourists, retirees, and educators—were integrated into a vibrant multi-national community of about 10,000. However, the Cuban Revolution significantly altered the landscape, marking the decline of American presence as deteriorating relations reshaped life on the island.

This area had gained historical relevance after the Spanish-American War when U.S. businessmen sought to buy land for agricultural production. As discussed in America’s Forgotten Colony, the American migration to the Isle was a response to a perceived ‚closed‘ frontier in the U.S., with many looking to expand their agrarian interests. These early collaborations between Americans and Cubans on the Isle of Pines eventually fell victim to the geopolitical tides as policies shifted and tensions escalated.

A Lasting Legacy

Delores is survived by her daughters Ruth Wessling and Gloria Martinez; her son and daughter-in-law David and Sandra Glienke; as well as a large family that includes eight grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Herman Glienke; sons-in-law Mark Wessling and Carlos Martinez; and her sister Mary Fellows.

As we remember Delores, let us acknowledge not just her contributions but also the communities she touched, both in Cuba and later in Miami. Her life exemplified resilience and service, and as we reflect on her journey, memorials can be made to the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League online or at their St. Louis address. Indeed, her legacy lives on through the lives she enriched and the bonds she fostered throughout her remarkable life.