John is a second-generation funeral director, born and raised in Arlington Heights. After attending public school in Arlington Heights, he graduated from Ripon College in Wisconsin and then Worsham College of Mortuary Science. John has been a fixture around the funeral home since childhood becoming a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in 1983.
John is a longtime dedicated Rotary member for many years having joined the Rotary Club of Arlington Heights “Noon Club” in the mid-1980s. In 2013 he was humbled to be selected as the “Duffer of the Year” for the Arlington Classic, a golf outing which supports Special Leisure Services Foundation. He’s also a proud charter member of Arlington Heights Sunrise and Arlington Heights Sunset where he served as the Charter President. He’s been a Wheeling Township Cemetery Trustee since 1999. Among other service clubs and organizations John serves are; the board member Arlington Heights Senior Center, Inc., member of St. James Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Holy Rosary Council #4483, and Elizabeth Ann Seton Assembly.
John’s interests include motor racing (member, instructor and club racer with Porsche Club of America), sporting clays (member at Northbrook Sports Club), golfing and bicycling. If you catch him watching sports; he enjoys auto racing, the Bears, and Blackhawks.
Born and raised in Arlington Heights , Jackie was among the last graduating classes of Arlington High School. She went on to receive her BA in Education from Drake University. She is married and has 2 boys attending Fremd High School.
Jackie has been a flight attendant for United Airlines since 1986, as well as working at the funeral home. Her responsibilities at the funeral home include being Office Manager and that job title can vary from day to day. She provides the necessary tools and supplies for our Funeral Directors to be able to complete their arrangements and honor family requests. This includes a wide range of things from catering to making memorial videos, whatever we can do to help a family through a difficult time. Jackie is our liaison who stays in contact with all of the families that we serve after the funeral services conclude. We see to it that any aftercare needs the family may have are arranged. Her flight attendant skills make her our perfect person to coordinate our community activities and events such as the Honor Flag Unit in the Memorial Day Parade, Veterans Bus Trip to Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery and our Annual Holiday Remembrance Services.
In her free time, she enjoys attending her kids various sporting events, gardening, playing tennis, and running. Her whole family has been charity runners and supporters of Salute, Inc for many years. The mission of this organization is to raise needed funds for military service members, Veterans and their families.
Marcie is pleased to say she was born, raised, and currently resides in Arlington Heights, and is a graduate of Arlington High School. She earned a degree in Veterinary Technology from Morehead State University in Kentucky. She then worked and managed a local Animal Hospital. After 23 years of nursing puppies, kittens, and critters she decided it was time to start her own family. She’s been married for 17 years to her best friend and husband Marc and is the proud mother to 2 children Alexi and Seth, and proud stepmother to Corey, Shannon, Connor and Kelsey. When she’s not spending time with her family, you can find her on the golf course trying to improve her game. She loves cooking, crafts, and anything chocolate. Along with her brother John Jr. and sister Jackie, she is an owner of Glueckert Funeral Home. As Project Manager, Marcie is currently working on redecorating the interior at the funeral home.
Her parents instilled in her to treat family like they are friends, and your friends like they are family , to open up your heart and your home , that any and all are welcome. I hope that all can feel welcome and comfortable in our home during one of the most difficult times of one's life.
Originally an Iowa native, Matthew, his wife and their three children, make their home in Arlington Heights. After earning his bachelors degree in sociology with a minor in counseling from the University of Iowa, Matt attended Worsham College of Mortuary Science. He has served the northwest suburbs in the funeral services for the last 14 years, joining the Glueckert family in 2006 being promoted to Manager in 2010.
As a Rotary International member who was awarded Rotarian of the Year in 2012, Matt enjoys the opportunity to promote the betterment of the local community and also have an impact on lives globally. Matt believes that it is compelling to be part of an industry that has such a long documented history and tradition that continues to evolve with the change of social values and the influences of technology. Working for a progressive and innovative funeral home allows him to offer a wider range of funeral service options, therefore better meeting the needs of families that we are fortunate to serve.
Matt has a remarkable sense of humor that he attributes in some way to being left handed. He enjoys a lot of different kinds of music, traveling and being a loyal and suffering Cub fan. His fun loving and animated personality are only enhanced by being a member of Phi Beta Kappa. When you meet him, don’t be surprised when he explains that he’s still amazed by electricity and he would like to own a bear. He’s our version of the “most interesting man in the world”.
I was born and raised on the northwest side of Chicago. In 1979 we move to Arlington Heights. At 16 I started my first full-time job, landscaping at a large cemetery. This job started my interest in the funeral business and science. I had some other interests but, by the time I turned 26 I had to choose one. In 1991 I enrolled in Worsham School of Mortuary Science and have been in the business ever since. I have been at Glueckert Funeral Home since January of 1999. My primary duties here are all aspects of embalming, restoration, and removals of the deceased. I enjoy being part of a reputable and large funeral home. All the staff members get along well with each other. I am a member of Kiwanis, married with two daughters and one grandson. Away from work I enjoy being outdoors, drums, music, and the Blackhawks.
Born in Spirit Lake, Iowa, in the northwest corner of the state, Sam was raised on a family farm with 4 siblings. Growing up on the farm taught him a few traits; responsibility, work ethic, efficiency, pride, and people skills. Sam loves to cook, something you learn early being raised on the family farm, but also by participating in the Dickinson County 4-H program. He earned 2 trips to the Iowa State Fair; first for his German Rye Bread Project, and the second for a bread taco educational presentation that received a “Certificate of Excellence” Award.
Sam is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in the State of Illinois, graduating from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in 2003. Sam started working for the Glueckert Family in 2002. Glueckert Funeral Home is the only funeral home that he’s worked for, having progressed through three different positions; student, apprentice, and funeral director. At Glueckert Funeral Home, Sam meets with families to make both pre-need and at-need arrangements. Sam puts himself in his families’ situation to listen, to direct, and to meet their needs to the best of his ability. He finds the smallest details and the simplest questions are almost always the most important. Sam’s a people guy. He loves being with people and listening to their stories, and he especially likes helping people. He assists in preparation work, training of new employees and doing whatever needs to be done to make a day run smoothly. For Sam, this profession is a faith-driven ministry where we work with the clergy from all faiths. In this ministry he can help a family through the worst times of their lives. He’s very proud to be a member of the staff of Glueckert Funeral Home and to be a member of this wonderful community. The same Resch Family principles taught to him yesterday by his parents are continued today with the Glueckert Family. He looks forward to meeting and serving every family that comes to Glueckert Funeral Home for help.
In his spare time, Sam loves to listen to various types of music. Sam is married to Kari, who teaches Kindergarten at St. James Elementary School in Arlington Heights. He is father to Kiana, and caretaker to his dog, Blaze, and his cat, James. He is a member of St. James Catholic Church in Arlington Heights, where he serves as a Eucharistic Minister and is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Holy Rosary Council #4483 in Arlington Heights. Kiana has now graduated from St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights and is moving on to an exciting college experience studying Bio-Medical Engineering at a Big 10 University. Both parents are very proud and a little sentimental about her moving to college. Not too far for visits from dad and mom!
Samantha has lived in Lombard since she was a child. She currently resides there with her husband Tommy and her three dogs, Greta, Gracie & Leo.
Samantha started her college career with an interest in nursing. She started by getting licensed as a certified nursing assistant and began working in a long term care facility. She continued taking college courses part time, while working full time, with a focus on becoming a registered nurse. After working for five years as a dedicated nurse assistant, she had a change of heart and wanted to help and care for people in a different way. The cause for this change was when she experienced a death in the family and she met a devoted funeral director that served her family in the time of need. Soon after this, she decided to become a funeral director and embalmer and start mortuary school.
Samantha graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in March of 2019. She has worked in the funeral industry since and has proved to herself and others that this is exactly where she needs to be. She feels that her career path was chosen for her by God and knows that this is how she is meant to serve others. She takes great care and attention to detail when caring for individuals. She treats everyone that comes into the funeral home as if they were her own family.
Some of Samantha’s interests outside of work include reading, drawing and painting, indoor gardening and spending time with her family and dogs. She also enjoys nature and spending time outdoors.
Esmeralda Alvarez was born in Mexico and raised in Chicago. She graduated with a bachelor's degree from Western Illinois University, and she is also a proud graduate from Worsham College of Mortuary Science, where she became a member of Pi Sigma Eta National Mortuary Honors Fraternity.
Her desire to serve the community and have an everlasting impact on people’s lives, especially during some of their toughest moments, is what inspired her to become a Funeral Director. Family is extremely important to her, and her mission is to take care of everyone who comes into Glueckert Funeral Home as if they were part of her own. With her empathy and her passion for helping others, she hopes to lessen the burden of all of those affected by the loss of a loved one.
Apart from serving her community, she is also passionate about helping animals and has done various volunteer work. She is the proud mom of 4 fur babies whom she adores and as she likes to say, "it's their world, I just live in it."
Bonnie has been with us at Glueckert Funeral Home since 2009. She’s believes everyone has a niche in life, and she has found hers working here and feels the experience has been very rewarding. Bonnie was raised and continues to reside in Des Plaines with her husband and two children. She started her career working in a funeral home directly out of high school not knowing the job was going to span a lifetime.
It is highly like that when you call Glueckert Funeral Home, Bonnie is the first person you’ll speak with. Among her many duties is assisting the funeral directors who are working with the many families who enter our doors. Having worked on the clerical side of the funeral industry for 39 years, Bonnie has had the pleasure of working with many talented and devoted funeral professionals. She’s learned a lot from them. She enjoys speaking with the families being served and is always looking to help them in some way. When you are a witness to the difficulties and challenges that families experience, Bonnie believes that a simple life is a better life!
When it’s time to relax, she enjoys stitching and crafting with friends at our monthly gatherings. She likes listening to her favorite blues and rock music, doing yoga, cooking and dining together with family and friends.
Gail’s first job in high school was at the original Glueckert Funeral Home on Vail Street and Northwest Highway. She grew up and still lives in Arlington Heights attending St. James School, Sacred Heart of Mary High School and College of Theresa in Winona, Minnesota. She spent her career working in corporate America before finding her way back to Glueckert Funeral Home in 2018. When not working Gail loves to bake, with Christmas cookies being a sentimental favorite. She also enjoys cooking, reading and gardening. Gail loves all sports but is a self-proclaimed hockey fanatic.